National Pharmacy Week is a time to recognise the invaluable contributions of local pharmacy staff who are providing care to thousands of patients across Essex every day.
From health and wellbeing signposting, medication advice and guidance, and consultations and treatment for many minor illnesses – pharmacists play an essential role in helping patients access the care they need when they need it most.
We asked Baba Akomolafe, a local Pharmacist practicing in Braintree, to share his reflections on his role as a Pharmacist. We also asked him to tell us about his recent win at the prestigious Pharmacy Business Awards.
Here’s what he had to say:
“As Pharmacy Week comes around again, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on what it means to serve our community and how far we’ve come.
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been a community pharmacist here in Braintree for 23 years. Over that time, the town has grown, and our workload has grown. But so too has our sense of purpose and partnership working across our community.
Evolving to meet the needs of our community
When I first qualified, my career began in hospital pharmacy. I was always encouraged by the collaborative approach I saw between pharmacists and doctors in hospital.
During my career, I have worked to help bring that collaborative approach into community settings. When we build better links between community pharmacies, GP practices, and other healthcare professionals we can provide more seamless, joined-up care for our patients.
What keeps me going
For me, the most fulfilling part of this job is simple: serving. Seeing the impact of what we do day in and day out on the lives of families around us is what keeps me motivated.
Not long ago, while giving a flu jab, I found myself reminiscing with a patient. I told her how I still remembered her late father, who used to come in regularly leaning on his walking stick, patiently waiting for his medicines. She smiled, and we both shared a quiet moment remembering him. It reminded me that our work is about much more than dispensing medicines. It’s about being part of people’s lives, sometimes over generations. That’s what’s truly fulfilling.
Embracing technology and innovation
Our pharmacy was recently honoured to receive a Pharmacy Technology Award at the Pharmacy Business Awards— a recognition that meant a lot to our whole team. To be nominated for a national award was wonderful; to win it was the icing on the cake!
We were recognised for using technology to increase our capacity to do clinical services – which ultimately helps us meet the needs of our patients more efficiently. This includes using our Robot, an AI-driven Patient Medication Record system for dispensing; a Pharmacy app for appointments; and our in house created pre-consultation web forms to make consultations with the pharmacist better focussed on the patient’s needs.
But for us, this is just the beginning. We’ve always believed that technology, when used thoughtfully, can make care more personal not less. We have had a dispensing robot for 17 years and we still have a few more ideas in the pipeline to use digital tools to serve our community even better.
Our guiding philosophy: PIES
At Christchurch Pharmacy, we know that productivity alone isn’t enough to ensure long-term success or patient satisfaction. That’s why we live by our mantra, PIES, which guides everything we do:
• P – Productivity: Working smart and staying focused on delivering real value.
• I – Innovation: Always looking for new and better ways to care for our patients.
• E – Efficiency: Streamlining our processes to make every interaction smoother and faster.
• S – Security: Building a stable, supportive environment for our team and our patients alike.
This philosophy keeps us grounded and helps us thrive as a business, as professionals, and as part of this wonderful community.
Looking ahead
After 23 years in Braintree, I can honestly say that the sense of connection and purpose I feel has only deepened. I’m proud to have served locally for so many years and proud to have seen our pharmacy grow alongside our town.
I look forward to many more years of caring, innovating, and making a difference — one patient at a time.
Happy Pharmacy Week!
Here’s to the profession that keeps on giving and to the people who make it all worthwhile.”
For more information on the support and services available in community pharmacy, please visit Pharmacy – Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System