Determined Katie wins award in recognition of medicines initiative

Katie, the CCG’s Proxy Online Ordering Support Lead, has been leading on supporting GP practices and care homes in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin to implement an NHS England initiative regarding the online ordering of medicines in GP practices and care homes.

She quickly, however, identified technological barriers to the project and therefore set her sights on persuading NHS Digital to change a national policy. Her determination over a six-month period paid off and her lobbying, has now led to a review in the way medicines ordering will be rolled out across the whole of England.

“NHS Digital had criteria, which Katie from her experience as a deputy practice manager, knew would cause massive administrative workload issues for GP practices and care homes.”

After three months of continued determination Katie convinced them of her idea to change the criteria and to run a pilot. This could lead to a change that will be rolled out across the whole of England.

Her Star of the Month Award has been presented by Mark Brandreth, Interim Accountable Officer at the CCG, during the organisation’s fortnightly ‘staff huddle’ – a virtual meeting at which all staff are briefed on key developments and given the chance to ask questions of their leadership team.

Katie was nominated by her manager Ceri Wright, Care Home Lead, Medicines Management, who said: “Katie is a relatively new member to our team but she has achieved great things so far.”

“This is just one example of her achievements; she has many others as she is totally dedicated to her role, going over and above anything expected and improving the efficiency of medicines ordering for care homes.”

Katie admitted to being shocked to be named only the third Star of the Month, since the recognition scheme launched in September.

She said, “I feel so overwhelmed, thank you so much for naming me Star of the Month, I am most grateful, I really am!”

“The announcement took me completely by surprise for the first time in my life I was speechless!”

“Thank you to the CCG for the opportunity to work in a place where I can make these differences that will have an impact on the lives of care home staff and residents across England. It means a lot to me. I have to say a special thank you to Ceri and the Care Home team for their support as this has made all of this possible, they are the real stars! ”

Mark said: “Katie hasn’t been with us long, but she has already made a huge impact in a short period of time.

“Her work on the ordering of medicines for GP practices and care homes is going to have a huge impact – not just within Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, but across the whole country.

“We are very proud of her, and I was delighted to be able to present her with the Star of the Month Award for November.”