Olutayo Arikawe, a community pharmacist in Dudley, has been shortlisted as a regional finalist for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s 'I Love My Pharmacist' awards.

Olutayo has worked as a Pharmacist Manager at the Priory Community Pharmacy for four years, regularly organising educational sessions and health promotion sessions, both inside and outside the pharmacy, alongside her day to day dispensing work. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton, giving career advice and offers work placements for their students. Olutayo said:

“It is a great honour to be selected in the I Love My Pharmacist Award. I am very passionate about improving the health of patients in the community, which is why my team and I always put the patient first, no matter what their situation is.

"It gives me enormous pleasure to help people make positive lifestyle changes; this is fundamentally why I get involved in so many different interventions.”

Now into its third year, the 'I Love My Pharmacist Award' celebrates the exceptional contribution pharmacists make to patient care every day throughout Great Britain. Whilst many people consider them solely as dispensers of medicine, increasingly they work alongside GPs, nurses and other NHS staff. They provide expert advice and vital services in the community such as stop smoking support and lifestyle advice.

There are 23 shortlisted regional finalists in Great Britain, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional care and commitment to patients. Olutayo has been shortlisted as a Regional Finalist for the Midlands and East - the only person from the area to receive a nomination. Ash Soni, Royal Pharmaceutical Society President said:

“The I Love My Pharmacist Award demonstrates just how vital pharmacists are to every local health service as we showcase and celebrate the many different and vital roles they perform across the NHS. Pharmacists help patients take their medicines better, treat minor ailments and make life-saving interventions, as well as offering many other services.

“I’m delighted that Olutayo has been selected as a regional finalist and I would now call on all members of the public to visit www.ilovemypharmacist.co.uk and vote for their Regional Winner”.

To cast a vote for Olutayo, visit the I Love My Pharmacist website before voting closes on 21st July.