AWARDS


PHARMACY TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR


supported by JEFF DICK, DEANS PHARMACY, WISHAW


Although he is contracted as a delivery driver for Deans Pharmacy, Jeff Dick’s job title serves as an injustice to the commitment, dedication and genuine compassion that he has for patients of Deans Pharmacy.


While Jeff’s main responsibility is to collect prescriptions from GP practices and from the district nurse’s community station before delivering the medication to patients in their homes, sheltered housing or nursing homes, Jeff’s personal remit goes above and beyond his job description.


On one occasion, for example, Jeff visited an elderly patient, who is a war veteran, and who requires delivery of medication on a weekly basis. The patient is truly bed bound and unable to open the door to Jeff or allow him access to his house. The patient’s medication is too large to be put through his letter box and he has nobody able to collect his medication from the pharmacy. When Jeff enquired about his care arrangements, he found out that the gentleman had carers visit him four times a day and arranged his deliveries for that day in a way that allowed him to meet the carer at the same time every week to ensure that this man could have access to his medication, contacting her in advance to ensure no delays were encountered that could impact other patients.


As any pharmacist knows, while dosette boxes are frequently used to help patients comply with their medication, they can prove challenging for some, especially partially sighted or blind people. Jeff has been an invaluable support to one patient, who is 98 years of age and has only partial vision in one eye and is completely blind in the other. Whilst the GP had initiated the dosette box - and the pharmacist dutifully obliged - it was Jeff who returned to the pharmacy seeking advice as to how the lady was going to see


Danielle McTaggart accepts the award on behalf of Jeff Dick, alongside Rick Cullen, Sales Director UK, WaterWipes


which day of the week it was, given that dosette boxes are all white on the back and the patient could only see colours. This fundamental flaw in this patient’s prescription was not picked up by either the doctor or the pharmacist but, through his work as a driver, who takes time to listen and views each patient as an individual, Jeff was able to ensure that any potential difficulties were overcome at an early stage. This challenge was overcome by marking each Thursday morning with a black cross using a felt marker to denote the day that the patient started her medication. By Jeff making a slight tear in the Thursday morning slot upon delivery, the patient is able to feel the indent and knows the exact position of her tablets. This keeps the medication in place upon transportation from pharmacy to her home, but allows the patient to know where her tablets are therefore ensuring compliance.


In addition to his collection and delivery duties, Jeff regularly seeks to improve his pharmacy knowledge. Having felt that a greater pharmacy knowledge would be beneficial in his role, he asked if he could undertake a counter assistant training course, which he duly completed. He also routinely supplements his knowledge through completing CPD training packages supplied via pharmacy magazines.


A fundamental requirement of any community pharmacy is to allow easy access to pharmacy services for patients and there is no doubt that Jeff personifies that statement. It is arguably more difficult to provide access for people who are bed bound, visually impaired or hard of hearing than it is to offer services to able- bodied people who can freely walk through the door of any pharmacy.


Jeff listens to people and takes the


time to get to know them. He provides a vital link between the pharmacist and the patients, many of whom have complex medical needs and regularly reports back to the pharmacist if someone is behaving out of character, or has expressed to him that they feel unwell. This information prompts a courtesy call from the pharmacist to assess whether a doctor is needed or if any advice can be offered.


Modern pharmacy requires more than the simple dispensing of prescriptions. Jeff Dick is a prime example of the fact that community pharmacy delivers an outstanding standard of care – literally and figuratively!


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