A DUDLEY pharmacist is one step closer to winning a top award.

Olutayo Arikawe, manager at The Priory Community Pharmacy, has been named as the regional winner of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s I Love My Pharmacist Award.

She was one of 23 regional finalists shortlisted by an expert panel for going above and beyond the call of duty in the name of excellent patient care.

Members of the public were then given six weeks to vote for their favourite and the 39-year-old secured the most, securing her a place in the next stage of the competition.

When Olutayo joined the Priory Road pharmacy in 2012, she was determined to make a difference.

She soon started to organise training for her team so they could carry out health promotions in the wider community and has been involved in many other interventions to help patients improve their health, from organising annual health funfairs to supporting alcohol dependent patients.

She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton, giving career advice and offers work placements for their students.

Olutayo said: “I am delighted to be the winner for Midlands and East, especially for my community. My patients are my number one priority and I’m really touched and honoured that so many of them have come forward to vote for me - I cannot wait to tell them that I am a regional winner.”

She will now join five other regional winners to meet the judging panel in London, where the national winner will be picked.