A VILLAGE pharmacy has won an award for its innovative approach to identifying dementia.

Banwell Village Pharmacy was given the commendation by industry peers at a ceremony at the Pharmacy Business Awards.

Last year, the pharmacy, run by Margaret Hook, took part in a project to increase the awareness and identification of dementia.

After training, the whole team set about asking as many people as possible whether their memory was having a negative impact on their lifestyle.

The 64 identified were then assessed, which involved remembering three random words while drawing a clock face.

Then the pharmacists tested the recall of the words.

Anyone who showed early signs of dementia were then referred to the GP and the pharmacy also reviewed their medication.

At the ceremony, the Undersecretary of State for Health Ben Gummer congratulated Banwell pharmacy for its collaborative working with the doctors’ surgery.

He said: “GPs and commissioners are increasingly recognising that collaboration with community pharmacists can really help to reduce the burden on busy GP practices and emergency departments.

“It is really great to see the medical and pharmacy professions working so closely together.”