A day in the life of Abimbola Alaba, community pharmacist in Mitcham

For Abimbola Alaba, the path to becoming a community pharmacist started at a young age. As a 7-year-old, he helped his mother dispense vital medications in a Nigerian hospital. Inspired by her dedication, he has fulfilled his dream of owning a community pharmacy in Mitcham, where he offers healthcare advice, medications and much-needed support to his community.

A day in the life of a community pharmacist

7:30am – Preparing for the day

Abimbola’s day starts early. “I’m an early bird,” he says, arriving at the pharmacy by 7:30am to prepare for opening at 9am. The morning is dedicated to organising prescription requests, managing orders with GP surgeries and handling any paperwork that ensures a smooth start to the day.

“Many people think, we’re just giving out medication but there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see,” Abimbola explains.

9am – Opening and first consultations

Once the pharmacy doors open, Abimbola and his team are ready for the day’s flow of patients. Pharmacies are in the heart of local communities, and Abimbola is used to people walking in with urgent needs.

“Every day is different and as the nearest, easiest source of health advice, we never know what cases will arrive on our doorstep. A patient can just walk in and say I need to talk to you about any condition and you’ve got to be ready. People have come to me with cancer symptoms, injuries, symptoms requiring emergency care and many need support with common winter conditions – coughs, colds and sore throats. I am able to advise them of what action to take or recommend appropriate treatment.

“We see people through all stages of life – from pregnancy and birth to the end of someone’s life,” he says.

11am – Vaccinations and health screenings

By mid-morning, Abimbola is juggling clinical checks, consultations, and phoning people who have started new medication to see how they’re getting on. “People trust us and share their health worries, looking to us for support and guidance. We work with our GPs and refer people on when needed and meet our doctors every week to keep in touch,” he explains.

At the same time, his team is delivering important vaccinations and consultations such through the Pharmacy First scheme.

“We offer a range of vaccinations for eligible children and adults. Some children missed out on their MMR vaccines at school, so we were able to invite them in to catch up. For adults we are in the swing of the Covid-19 and flu vaccination season. We also provide pneumonia and travel vaccines.” Sometimes, his team even makes home visits to administer these vaccines for patients unable to come in.

1pm – Pharmacy First cases

A key part of Abimbola’s day is providing on-the-spot consultations under the Pharmacy First scheme. “We help patients manage common conditions like sore throats, sinusitis, and urinary tract infections. These can be managed easily by a pharmacist in our private consultation room. The training and Pharmacy First has been a real game changer and I think it really is the way forward. It has made a huge difference in accessing healthcare for common ailments and I receive many positive comments from patients all the time.”

3pm – Specialist services

My pharmacy also offers specialist services like blood pressure monitoring, contraception prescribing and weight management support. But often people don’t know they can get this through their local pharmacy.

“We offer blood pressure monitoring which was previously manly given by hospitals. A person’s blood pressure can be measured by a machine and then when they come back, we download all their readings and send it to their GP for treatment or lifestyle advice. It’s the gold standard and has been really successful.”

“Someone can also now walk in and get contraception. They are invited in for a confidential consultation and, if clinically appropriate, given three months’ supply. This is great for people who are working and can’t always visit the doctor easily.”

5pm – Support for winter illnesses and community needs

Winter brings a host of challenges. Patients with coughs, colds and sore throats come to Abimbola as their first line of support, but he sees broader social needs as well. “One patient mentioned he couldn’t afford heating, and we connected him with the council for assistance,” he recalls. “It’s part of what community pharmacy is about—helping people in every way we can.”

6pm – Closing up for the day

Towards the end of the day, Abimbola and the team order stock for the day’s prescriptions. “We have to work really closely with the prescribers to ensure our patients get the medication they need.”

As both pharmacist and business owner, he wears many hats. “I’ve got to think about the financial and clinical sides of the pharmacy,” he notes. Around 7:30pm, after tidying up, Abimbola heads home.