The Pharmacy Guild of Australia congratulates community pharmacist Brad Butt on being named the Australian Patients Association’s inaugural ‘Most Outstanding Community Pharmacist of the Year’ at the association’s annual awards night in Melbourne last night.
Mr Butt, from Cooleman Court Pharmacy in Weston, ACT, was nominated by members of the public for the award, which was sponsored by the Guild.
The new award recognises the increasingly important contribution community pharmacists make in helping improve health outcomes for patients, and identifies leaders in the industry.
Acting National President of the Guild Trent Twomey said the work Mr Butt was doing at his pharmacy was characteristic of the changing nature of community pharmacy.
“His commitment to the delivery of professional services and to making his pharmacy a community health hub show where the future of community pharmacy lies. He is a great example for all pharmacies and this award reflects just how much patients and consumers recognise the importance of these services,” Mr Twomey said.
Victorian State President of the Guild Anthony Tassone presented the award and said it highlighted the critical role pharmacists play in the community.
“This award is important because it aligns so closely with the work community pharmacists across the whole country undertake every day. Patients and consumers have great faith in their pharmacists, with the result being that we are consistently ranked along with nurses near the top of the most trusted profession lists,” he said.
“On top of that, public opinion surveys have consistently shown that 95 per cent of patients are satisfied with their community pharmacy.”
In a statement, Mr Butt said he was passionate about delivering high-quality, hands-on healthcare to the local Weston Creek community.
“We take a holistic approach to healthcare as other issues like smoking cessation, weight loss, healthy eating, alcohol intake and exercise have a huge effect on health and wellbeing,” Mr Butt said.
“We also work with a range of other health professionals to help bridge the gap that often exists between patients, doctors and allied healthcare practitioners.”
Mr Butt said the team at Cooleman Court Pharmacy was dedicated to supporting patients by providing access to a knowledgeable and passionate pharmacist.
He adds that pharmacists are often out and about at local sporting events, nursing homes, childcare centres and charity support groups to discuss health related issues.
Mr Butt is also passionate about assisting men and their partners deal with a range of urological and prostate issues and in 2013 he founded the Men’s Health Downunder service, a pharmacy-delivered clinic service based in Weston, to deal with this issue. The program, although based in Canberra, reaches patients in all metropolitan centres as well as regional and remote Australia.
