A PHARMACIST from South East Cornwall has been recognised as a star of his profession.

David Stolton, 54, from Gunnislake, has spoken of his delight at being selected as a regional finalist in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s ‘I Love My Pharmacist’ competition.

David, who also works as a non-stipendiary minister in the Callington and Gunnislake Methodist Circuit and contributes to the Cornish Times Prayer of the Week column, has run his own Stoltons Pharmacy, in West Hoe, Plymouth, for the last 22 years.

David has been recognised as a star-performing pharmacist providing an outstanding service to the local community and now needs patients’ votes to reach the next stage of the competition. The national title will go to a pharmacist deemed to have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the name of excellent patient care.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society says Britain’s pharmacists work alongside GPs, nurses and hospital staff, providing expert advice and crucial services such as medication reviews and stop smoking services.

David has been shortlisted as a finalist for Southern England for his and his team’s outstanding contribution to the care of their patients. Organisers say: ‘The team take a special interest and give extra time to patients on anti-depressants. David recognises that counselling services in his area are insufficient, and he always takes the time out of his busy schedule to talk to his patients.

‘Many speak to him for advice, or sometimes just to talk – but David never turns anyone away. He has recently refitted his pharmacy with a new bigger consultation room to improve these services for his patients, as well as to facilitate the newer services pharmacies are now able to offer.

‘David has gone above and beyond the usual role of a pharmacist by helping homeless people off the streets through finding them accommodation and, if necessary, food, plus ensuring they get any medical attention they need.’

David, who raised almost £5,000 for Save the Children last year with a solo cycle ride from John o’Groats to Land’s End, said: ‘I am delighted and a little surprised. It is a real honour to be selected in the I Love My Pharmacist initiative and to know I have had a positive impact on customers’ health and well-being.

‘Our pharmacy has been part of the community for 22 years. The staff and I are on first name terms with most patients. That means they trust us, and come to us with not just health-related issues, but sometimes life issues too. At Stoltons Pharmacy we believe that it is all about the person, not just a patient.’

David’s citation continued: ‘He and the team go out of their way to reach members of the community who have been involved in drug abuse. For example there was one patient who had returned after a time away with only the clothes on his back. He was experiencing delays to his benefits, was using street methodone and was struggling to get a doctor’s appointment for help with his drug addiction. David and the team bought him some clothing from a charity shop and managed to arrange for his prescription to be ready the next day.

‘The unnamed patient said, “No one’s ever helped me like that before”.’

To vote for David Stolton as your regional winner visit http://www. ilovemypharmacist.co.uk by Tuesday, September 29.