Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2010 | Page 42

life SOCIAL SCENE February/March 2010 Kevin Noble, Gary Warner, Gillian Lacey, Mandy Wood, Michael Holden, Christine Vessey, Tracey Green, Liz Harrison, Martin Stevens, Candice Hughes-Thomas Pharmacy Awards 2010 A Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain annual gala dinner took place on Saturday 16th January at the Royal Ventnor Hotel. The dinner had been arranged to celebrate the many successes seen in Pharmacy on the Island this year. Pharmacy services on the Isle of Wight are leading the way nationally, and this was recognised at the end of last year, when in October, the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust was awarded an NHS Alliance Acorn Award for commissioning Pharmacy Services. At the event, Martin Stephens, the National Clinical Director for Pharmacy paid tribute to Island Pharmacists on their excellent contribution to patient care. The Island Pharmacy Awards were presented at the evening to members of Pharmacy teams that had made outstanding contributions in 2009. Pharmacists on the Island this year have been involved with the administration of Hepatitis B vaccinations to at risk individuals, administration of seasonal influenza vaccine, making this service more accessible to at risk individuals, and have also played an important part in screening and treating Chlamydia infection. Community Pharmacists have recently 42 started screening for HIV infection, the first Pharmacy based service of this nature in England. The hospital Pharmacy at St Mary's is leading nationally on the automation of storage, and is the first hospital Pharmacy to be linked directly with a GP walk in centre. Kevin Noble, this years Branch Chairman and Lead Community Pharmacist spoke at the evening, and said "I am extremely proud of what we have achieved this year by integrating Pharmacists into patient care. We have made a significant impact on improving medicines use, and improving patient access to certain services", he went on to thank his colleagues in island Pharmacies for effectively delivering the services that had been introduced in 2009, and spoke about plans to make further use of Pharmacies in 2010. Other distinguished guests at the evening included Michael Holden and his wife Nikki. Mike, who is the Chief Operating Officer with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Pharmaceutical Committee helped with the presentation of the awards on the night. The award winners Supporting professional development Gary Warner Regent Pharmacy and Isle of Wight Local Pharmaceutical Committee rep The White Paper Award Gillian Lacey, Siddy's Convent Pharmacy Promoting safety in Medicine Liz Harrison St Mary's Hospital Pharmacy Pharmacy Team of The Year The Mental Health Team St Mary's Hospital Pre Registrant of the year Candice Hughes-Thomas of Regent Pharmacy Pharmacy Assistant of the year Christine Vessey of Gibbs and Gurnell Pharmacy Technician of the year Nick Stotesbury of Siddys Pharmacy Newport Pharmacist of the year Mandy Wood of Boots the Chemist Ryde Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com