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Pharmaceutical Care Awards 2003
(21 January 2004)

Once again, it is the time of year when The Pharmaceutical Journal puts out a call for submissions to the Pharmaceutical Care Awards (entry form PDF 140K). But what are they and what do they mean? As one of the judges who consider the submissions, I will attempt to answer that from my own perspective, but also make comment on their contribution to the development of the profession.

The awards recognise excellence in the development of pharmaceutical services and have, until this year, been divided into three categories: shared care, hospital pharmacy and community pharmacy. As a judge I look forward to receiving the bundle of submissions in the spring. I feel in a privileged position to be able to read about the excellent work that is being taken forward to progress patient care. All the projects have their merits but we have to apply certain criteria to identify the winners of the awards.

In addition to general merit, the judges are looking for originality; this ensures that the work done by the award winners can be recognised as good practice for others to follow. Quality of outcome is another criterion on which the awards are judged; in these days of evidence based practice it is essential that outcomes can be demonstrated. But the criterion which receives most emphasis is the contribution to improving patient care. This reflects not only the raison d’être of the awards but also the accepted definition of pharmaceutical care: “the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life”. ¹

The awards present a showcase of the best of professional practice. Each year the awards ceremony is attended by the great and good, not only from within the profession but also from the associated health professions, the health departments from England, Scotland and Wales, and patient representatives. In 1998 the awards were presented by Paul Boateng, the then Health Minister with special responsibility for care in the community. In his address he commented on the fact that what struck him about the projects was that patients were at the heart of what pharmacists sought to do. He went on to say that pharmacists had an important role to play in the new NHS.

The impact of the awards and the role we had to play were not forgotten by Mr Boateng in comments made later to the House of Commons. In response to a question asking what proposals he had to reduce the incidence of over-medication of the elderly, Mr Boateng responded: “I was glad to have the opportunity... to give a prize ... as part of the Pharmaceutical Care Awards. We have learnt from the experience ... that where pharmacists go out and about in the community, particularly where they are concentrated around nursing homes, the number of drugs prescribed per resident can be significantly reduced, stays in hospital can be reduced, and, significantly, the number of deaths is reduced. We want that good news and good practice replicated throughout the National Health Service.” ²

Over the years the Pharmaceutical Care Awards have become one of pharmacy’s top accolades. If you are proud of the work that you have been doing submit an application — now! As in previous years, three awards will be made but, to reflect the increasing blurring of community care, shared care and hospital care, short-listed submissions will be judged together.

Angela Alexander, Chairman of Governors, College of Pharmacy Practice.

1 Hepler CD, Strand LM. Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am J Hosp Pharm 1990;47:533-543 2 House of Commons Hansard Debates for 28 Jul 1998

Entry form PDF (140K)