Pharmacist shortlisted for unsung hero award

A CARING Fife pharmacist has been nominated for an Unsung Hero Award for going beyond the call of duty.

Hospital pharmacist Iain Rivans, 41, sprang into action to help a chemotherapy patient who was suffering “the worst nausea you could imagine”.

Lorna Kennedy, who is now in remission, put his name forward for a patients’ choice award after he arranged for anti-sickness medication to be delivered to her house.

She had been so ill over a weekend, she was unable to eat, drink or sleep and was put through to Iain after phoning Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for advice on the Monday.

“Through tears I tried to explain my predicament and my inability to get help,” she said.

“He listened patiently and showed great compassion.”

Lorna added: “Iain phoned every day for the next few days to see how I was doing and when I thanked him, he said cheerfully that it was all part of the service.

“Iain went way beyond the call of duty and his passion and dedication to the patients he encounters is something rare and worthy of note.”

Mr Rivans, who is a specialist in treating cancer patients, previously worked at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital and Edinburgh Cancer Centre. He started working at Victoria Hospital in 2013.

With the blessing of wife Lara, he will be taking his mum Jean to the awards ceremony in Manchester tomorrow, when he will be the only person from Scotland on the shortlist.

Iain Rivans