“Teamwork makes dream work”

Winning Team of the Year at the Pharmacy Business Awards, just one year after opening, is a reflection of the exceptional leadership Totty Pharmacy owner Samson Akere displayed to ensure his first foray into ownership was a success.

Akere took over the pharmacy in Charlton in October 2023 and straight away he set out on the path to create a diverse, multi-skilled team.

“There's a slogan that goes ‘teamwork makes dream work’ – I believe that's one of the reasons why we won because the whole team gel and work well together and operate as a unit. Individuals may have their own tasks, but they are all receptive of what's going on in the pharmacy and assist where they can.” Akere told Pharmacy Business.

One of the first steps Akere took was to provide NPA-certified training to the pharmacy’s four counter assistants.

“I’ve tried to embed the ethos of training because you can't expect the team to do well unless you've actually given them the right materials. It's like asking someone to dig but you haven't given them a shovel,” he said.

“If you provide your staff with the right level of training, guidance and instil confidence in them then you will see the benefits of that in the way they perform.”

Totty Pharmacy has increased the number of services it provides

Akere, 32, has also tapped into giving the next generation of pharmacy professionals opportunities by making Totty Pharmacy a training provider for trainees and apprentices. This has helped him with plans to extend the services the pharmacy provides.

His team have embraced and expanded NHS advanced services, including the hypertension case-finding and the NHS lateral flow device (LFD) test supply services, significantly extending their impact on community health.

“Before launching the hypertension case-finding service, the entire team participated in detailed training on blood pressure monitoring and result interpretation in order to build confidence and ensure professional delivery of the service,” said Akere.

“These interventions have led to the early detection of hypertension in numerous cases, including several instances of underlying stage 2 hypertension. Patients identified with stage 2 hypertension have since been referred to their GPs and placed on blood pressure medication, coupled with advice on necessary lifestyle changes.”

The team has also strived to build strong relationships with local businesses. They have partnered with six PureGym branches and local Sainsbury’s supermarkets where they conduct blood pressure checks and promote health awareness.

Totty Pharmacy in Charlton

Over just four months, they performed more than 410 clinical blood pressure checks and 17 ambulatory blood pressure monitors (ABPMs). They also provided over 354 LFD test kits to local care homes, averaging over 110 kits per month.

“This pharmacy previously wasn't really maximising on services or some services weren't available at all,” said Akere.

“They were doing travel vaccinations, but not to the full extent because things like yellow fever and malaria weren’t a part of it which is something that the NHS doesn’t offer. Chicken pox vaccinations is another one that I have introduced and that’s based on the local demographic and having many nurseries in the area.”

He added: “I knew I had to build a team that could perform these services and that’s why even before I took over, during the sales process, I got the pharmacy accredited to host trainee pharmacists.

“Trainee pharmacists have a certain level of skill set and clinical knowledge that can really assist the pharmacist.

“I also have someone who is doing a pharmacy services assistant apprenticeship and she is gaining practical knowledge along with the theoretical knowledge.”

Totty Pharmacy also had a member of the team who isn’t often seen in pharmacies – a physician associate, in fact, Akere suggests they might have had the only one working in community pharmacy.

“Michelle is a family friend who was studying to be a physician associate but wanted to do some clinical, healthcare-related work before sitting her exams. She had four months and I jumped at the chance because I could only imagine the skill set she would bring to the team,” said Akere.

One of Totty Pharmacy's new and improved consultation rooms

Michelle ended-up staying at the pharmacy for 11 months with Akere saying she had an “amazing” impact on the team, especially because of her clinical knowledge.

“Physician associates currently work in either GP surgeries or hospitals, but it really opened my eyes to having them in the community pharmacy setting because of their potential in really upskilling the workforce,” said Akere.

“She trained the whole team in how to do clinical blood pressure check to the highest level of standard. We have a training manual that we've designed for the team to read and understand and also refer them to videos. But the main thing is to do it hands on and have someone can actually guide you - she was instrumental in training the team for that.

“When we started doing the flu and covid vaccinations, she carried out that service under the national protocol. Under my supervision, she clinically checked customers were getting the correct medication and managed patients hospital discharge summaries.

“She came with me to meetings with GP surgeries and just overall ensured that we were providing the highest level of service to the surgeries and customers.”

Totty Pharmacy has implemented a structured training program that includes regular workshops, access to the latest clinical guidelines, and hands-on practice.

“This approach ensures that staff are well-prepared and confident, contributing to high-quality patient care and improved outcomes,” said Akere.

Every member of the Totty Pharmacy team is encouraged to develop their skills

Having been a pharmacist for nine years, Akere worked in and managed a number of pharmacies. The key thing he learned from experienced colleagues and mentors was the importance of a pharmacy team.

“They always highlighted the success of a pharmacy generally comes down to the team - that's the foundation of the pharmacy, if you're not leading a team in the right direction, then the pharmacy will crumble,” he said.

“If you put a locum in a pharmacy that has a very good team, they will be fine. If you put a superstar pharmacist in a team that is quite dysfunctional, who don't know their roles, they don't know how to perform, regardless of how good that pharmacist is, they will not be successful.”

Winning the Pharmacy Business Team of the Year Award reinforced for Akere his decision to put his focus on his team and at the forefront of long-term success.

Coincidently, they picked up the award a year to the day he took over Totty Pharmacy.

“Winning the award really emphasises the importance of what we've been doing together as a team,” he said.

“Working together, pushing our services, and making sure everyone's happy as well. I told them the award wasn't for me, it was for them, so it was amazing to have them there to receive it.”

Samson Akere collecting his award at the Pharmacy Business Awards

From a personal point of view, Akere is proud of what he’s achieved in such a short time as a pharmacy owner even though it has come with its challenges.

“It's been a massive learning curve where I’ve learnt on the job - there's only so much you can understand before you actually get in a driver's seat,” he said.

“When people ask me if I’d advocate for it, I would say it really does come down to the individual, because it's not easy, but it's rewarding.

“Every day comes with its own challenges, you never really know what things are going to be thrown at you, but you just have to have a level of serenity, a level of calmness, where you can understand what's happening and continue moving forward.”