The shortlist for the 2009 Helix Health Irish Pharmacist Awards was announced today. The Pharmacist Awards are open to all those in the pharmacy profession in research, science and community or hospital based practice fields.

The shortlist includes pharmacists throughout the country, from counties, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Mayo, Sligo and Westmeath. Three pharmacists have been shortlisted in six of the award categories.

2009 Helix Health Pharmacist Awards Shortlist

Category: Sanofi- Aventis Excellence in Hospital Pharmacy
Nominees: Eva Dockery, Sligo General Hospital, Co. Sligo, Geraldine Colohon, Portiuncula Hospital, Co. Mayo, Claire Keane, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin

Category: Helix Health Excellence in Community Pharmacy
Nominees: Brian O’Reilly, Naas, Co. Kildare, Sheila O’Driscoll, Douglas, Co. Cork, Noel Stenson, Achill Island, Co. Mayo

Category: Hilary Haydon and Company Chartered Accountants Pharmacist Contribution to the Community. Nominees: Mary-Jo Duffy, Duffy’s Pharmacy, Ennis, Co. Clare, Dermot Smyth, Breens Pharmacy, Slane, Co. Westmeath, Marie O’Brien, O’Brien’s Pharmacy, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

Category: Clonmel Healthcare Young Pharmacist of the Year. Nominees: Miriam Kerins, Lohan Pharmacy, Galway, Claire Murphy, Unicare Pharmacy, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, John Green, Unicare Newbridge, Dublin 3

Category: Teva Patient Nominated. Nominees: Richard Woods, Woods Pharmacy, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Donough Connolly, Connollys Pharmacy, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Donagh Corby, Firgrove Pharmacy, Bishopstown, Co. Cork

Category: Ulster Bank Professional Excellence. Nominees: Mary Rose Burke, Ireland Administration Office, Boots the Chemist, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, Sheila Ryder, School of Pharmacy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2. Tim Delaney, Head of Pharmacy, Tallaght Hospital.

Commenting on the shortlist, Howard Beggs, Chief Executive of Helix Health said, “The calibre of entries for this year’s awards has been outstanding, and the shortlist is a testament to the hard work and commitment pharmacists throughout Ireland have demonstrated to their patients and to research in the field”.

“We have been very impressed with the high standard of practice and innovation the award entrants have demonstrated as well as the great amount of support shown by the public to their pharmacists through the Patient Nominated Award,” added Beggs.

At the awards ceremony on May 9th, the prestigious awards for Moroney Barron Solicitors Lifetime Achievement and GlaxoSmithKline Ltd. Overall Pharmacist of the Year, will also be presented. The awards were set up to support the Benevolent Fund of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and hope to raise €40,000 this year.

The Benevolent Fund supports those who have been associated with pharmacy and who are now in need of assistance. The funds are put to a wide variety of uses to improve the basic quality of life of those in need. Lack of provision for the inevitable event of retirement, or the unexpected events of being unable to work due to serious illness or premature death of a working spouse, are the primary reasons people need assistance from the Benevolent Fund.

While the typical beneficiary may be an elderly widow of a pharmacist living alone, there are many other kinds of people who require help. Some may find it difficult to believe in the current pharmacy environment, but there are many in the profession, or associated with it, which are affected by poor health or have fallen on hard times. They need our assistance. It is important to remember that the Benevolent Fund considers cases not alone from Pharmacists and their families, but also those from the Healthcare Industry.

Sponsors of Helix Health Irish Pharmacist Awards include Teva, Clonmel Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, Ulster Bank, Sanofi Aventis, Moroney Barron Solicitors and Hilary Haydon and Company Chartered Accountants.