A day in the life of a...pharmacist, Lubna Patel

“I’m all about helping people”

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Lancashire born Lubna Patel, is a well respected community Pharmacist, currently living and working in London. Lubna is married with one daughter. The eldest of 4 sisters, in both her family and working life Lubna has a “sense of responsibility” to others. Lubna’s dream job was originally to work in hospital pharmacy. However, as she explains this was not meant to be. As a Muslim, she firmly believes that “everything happens for a reason” and she is very happy with her present role. Along the way, she has appeared in an NHS advert promoting the use of Pharmacies, as well as many other accomplishments. As she says of herself, “I’m always doing something!” The link to Lubna’s advert is at the end of the blog.

Read on to learn more about Lubna! 

Family is very important to me. I am the eldest of 4 sisters, and we were all taught by our parents to be independent women, which is something I want for my daughter also. I was 14 years old when I decided I wanted to be a pharmacist, when a practising hospital pharmacist called Stephen Freeborn came and spoke to us at our school. I later began my studies at Liverpool John Moore’s University. That in itself was a big deal within the South Asian community - that I was able to go away to Uni. This perhaps unconventional approach has continued with my own daughter, who has not followed in my footsteps with regards to a medical career, but she has successfully graduated in Fashion Styling and Production.

Lubna modelling with her daughter for a photoshoot

I did my pre-reg at Bolton Hospital. When I first qualified I worked as a hospital Pharmacist which as I said, had been my dream job. I became a cardiology Pharmacist in Wolverhampton, New Cross Hospital. I was there for one year and then got the opportunity to begin a clinical Masters, again at Liverpool John Moore’s University. 

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to complete the Masters due to the sudden death of my mother, who was only 56 at the time. I had just moved to Liverpool and was about 3 months into my studies, but I needed to be with my family so I came back home. I sat a few exams before I came home to Bolton, and my results were really good, but it wasn’t meant to be. This period of my life saw my transition to community pharmacy. 

One community pharmacy I worked for early on was part of a chain, and they wanted me to manage one of the branches. That was great fun. I was then introduced to my now husband, and we got married and lived in Dubai for a couple of years. When we came back to the UK and settled in London, I worked as a locum in many pharmacies including Tescos pharmacy as a second pharmacist. I fell pregnant then and continued working part-time.

“One thing I’d say about myself is I’m not naturally able. 

I’ve worked very hard to get to where I am, 

and to acquire the knowledge I have, 

but I haven’t always passed tests the first time. 

I’ve not got the natural ability. I work and work and work to get there. 

So I’m very grateful to be in the position I’m in now.”

I was living with my in-laws at the time for 10 years. As a whole family we had various commitments including helping care for my autistic brother-in-law, which I assisted with. To strike a work-life balance I decided not to go down the managerial route, but instead I continued as a second Pharmacist for Tescos. I discovered that working part-time suited me and my family life because there was flexibility around that. I’ve been self-employed ever since. That can be a bit scary at times money-wise, but overall I’m very happy with my situation. 

Imran, the owner of Churchfield pharmacy where I now work, was one of my managers at the Tesco pharmacy back then. After I had been working at Tescos a couple of months, Imran left and acquired what is now Churchfield pharmacy. I had been working at Tesco for a few years when Imran contacted me to ask me to work with him at Churchfield Pharmacy. This suited me and my family commitments very well and I’ve been there ever since.  

As a practising Muslim a typical day starts when I wake up to do my first prayers of the day. As a Muslim I pray 5 times per day. At the moment sunrise is about 6:30am. We have to do our first prayers before then. My alarm at the moment goes off at 5:40am. Before we pray we have to have a wash (called an ablution) so you’re clean to do your prayers. Then do my prayers. If I’m tired I then might go back to bed. 

I have a friend/cousin who I have an early morning walk with most days around 6:30-7am. We walk for about 45mins-1hr. I’ve been doing that for a year or so whatever the weather. After losing my father in April 2022 who was mine and my sisters’ rock, the walk in the mornings has really helped my wellbeing and is something I need. Speaking of my father, he was a big advocate of women becoming independent and learning and educating themselves, as was my mother.

On the way home I might need to go shopping. Pick up a few bits. I prep lunch and dinner when I get back so that my family can eat before me as I get home late. I’ll get ready for work and do my prayers again before I leave for work, depending on my start time that particular day. Alternatively I can take 15mins out at work to do my prayers if needed. 

Lubna with her husband and daughter who she describes as “my life”

I’m usually working in the afternoons. My working day usually starts between 12-2pm. At work I’m on my feet most of the day. I’ll get myself a cup of tea when I arrive and talk to the other staff and get up to speed with the events of the day and what needs to be done. I look at the consultations. Pharmacists are now getting referrals from GP surgeries, so I’ll have a look at those. I’ll look at any paperwork that needs to be done. And then start dispensing and talking to patients. Another of my roles is to supervise any young people who work for us and generally take them under my wing. 

I’ve worked at Churchfield pharmacy for more than 10 years so many customers know me by name and will sometimes request to speak to me, for example if it’s about a women’s issue. After I finish about 7pm, there might be an emergency delivery of medication which I’ll do on my way home. It’s usually sunset by the time I get home, so as soon as I get home I’ll do my ablution and my prayers. I’ll warm up my dinner and have that, then spend some time with my daughter and my husband in front of the TV watching something family orientated. Then it's time for the final prayers of the day, followed by bed.

On a Wednesday my routine is slightly different, as I volunteer in the morning at South Woodford Islamic Centre. I volunteer on Weds between 11am-1pm. We are hoping that in time this will become an all faiths activity, however, the older Muslim men and women who attend currently find it very rewarding especially as they often live alone. We go on day trips to places such as Hampton Court (pictured below). 

The group is called Chai & Chat. As the name suggests we have tea and snacks and chat! Someone comes in to teach embroidery. There’s also chess and other games, word searches etc. A personal trainer comes in and runs an exercise class for around 45mins. I always wanted to do some volunteering and since my dad passed away I really wanted to get involved in something and this is it. I’ve witnessed many physical and mental health improvements in the people who attend. As I said, after dad passed away that’s my give back to the community. 

Lubna in her role as volunteer on a day trip recently to Hampton Court

When I first started working in South Woodford 10-15 years ago it was predominantly an English/White area. I am a visibly Muslim lady. I wear a Hijab. At the time some of the locals made a range of assumptions about me such as that I couldn’t speak English, that I was an oppressed person, that I was subservient and so on. I was very aware there were some preconceived ideas about the way I look and who I should be as a person, but it just challenged me even more to dispel those myths. 

There were times early on when I asked myself if I’d be able to stay working at Churchfield Pharmacy, but I worked very hard and won the trust of the locals. From a position where I was working behind the scenes, I’m now at the front of the pharmacy. I believe locals now look differently at Hijabi women because they've gotten to know me. One of the benefits that I’ve been able to bring to the pharmacy is to support members of the local South Asian community with their health and teach them about the importance of regular check-ups and so on, speaking to them in their own language if needed. This is an advantage community pharmacy has over hospital pharmacy - you have more time to talk to patients. 

I’m interested in doing some kind of counselling training in future, as talking to patients is so much a part of my job and something I’m naturally good at. People sometimes come to see me and the issue has nothing to do with medicine or health, but more to do with their state of mind. Sometimes people don’t need medicine. Sometimes they just need to talk and get good advice.

I’ve been a community pharmacist for some years now, but I don’t see my career as stagnant because I’m always learning. The fact that I’m passionate about my job and want to learn more, tells me my career is a success. Looking to the future I’m considering doing the prescribers course in 2025, so I could be a pharmacist-prescriber and perhaps work in a GP surgery. However, I can’t imagine leaving Churchfield Pharmacy for good yet. I’m not done there yet! There’s lots of things I still want to do. 

To view the NHS advert featuring Lubna, click here.

To read more “day in the life” articles and much more, click here to view the blog of The Careers Company.