A Patchway-based online pharmacy is in the running for a national award for its role in helping suicidal patients get the support they need. Now Mayor Dan Norris is issuing a call to arms to West of England locals to vote for the group “literally saving lives here in the West of England”.
Residents can vote by going to https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/awards/2023 before Monday 31 July.
The team at PillTime, a Cribbs-Causeway-HQ’d digital pharmacy, have been short-listed for an “Above and Beyond – Team” award in recognition of the way they have helped ten distressed patients via their life-saving guidance and polices which they have developed over the last 12 months.
It followed a call in May 2022 to the NHS-registered company from a resident who said he was struggling and wanted to die. After this experience, the PillTime team decided to draw up guidance to assist people in their darkest hour.
They created a new customer care script and issued guidance to all PillTime departments which has been used to help other patients who needed mental health support or who have expressed suicidal tendencies this past year. Someone in distress can now be swiftly signposted to charities and other organisations offering specialist support.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Bravo to the PillTime team for going above and beyond to prevent these devastating events which we know have a lifelong impact on family and friends. They are, quite literally, saving lives in the West of England. That’s why I’m urging every West of England local to vote for PillTime to get the recognition they so deserve.”
Mr Norris said he was also calling on West of England organisations to have better mental health and support conversations to help save lives, including by joining his West of England Good Employment Charter which includes commitments to support struggling workers.
115 people die from suicide every week in the UK, which the Mayor described as ‘shocking’, while an estimated 17 million working days are lost each year due to depression, stress and anxiety.
He added: “We in the West of England can and must do better on this. I encourage every firm to join me in the fight to help break the taboo around mental wellbeing, and help people who are struggling to reach out and not suffer in silence.”
CEO Leighton Humphries added: “I want to express our gratitude for the recent recognition being bestowed upon our team for their efforts in safeguarding vulnerable patients within our communities. We are fortunate to have a great team of compassionate and hardworking professionals providing an excellent service to our patients.”