Independent Pharmacies/Chemist's

In our county we suffer a shortage of phamacists.

We are a small market town with a Boots and a Well( prev co- op) pharmacy.

I have worked for all three, Boots for many years, sadly neither have people skills, expertise, or deliver a customer focused service.

I use pharmacy2U for my meds, as unfortunately both of the pharmacies are unprofessional, unorganised, and most of the time unavailable with regards opening times

of nearbouring towns/large villages, quite a few have at least one independant and I love the variety of stuff they sell. All the towns have an old fashioned hardware shop

I stopped using a chain pharmacy, it was a shambles. Lost scripts, missing meds and days before prescriptions were dispensed.

I now use an independant one, which is a wee bit further away, but what an amazing difference in the service provided.

Yes, we have one in our local town,I never use it it looks a bit foisty and old-fashioned. Yet I loved the two very old Chemist shops in the town where I was brought up with all the apothecary jars with Leeches etc. Printed on them and all the brass labelled drawers. Why do I fall for Boots?

I can think of half a dozen in this town. Probably more in nearby towns and villages.

I blame the loss on Brexit 😂

You are norty
But I like you!

We have a Boots and two or three independent chemists within a reasonable distance. The pharmacist in Boots was rude and unhelpful so guess where we go?

Oh yes, the independent chemist did our flu vaccinations when everywhere else failed us (including the surgery).

Three independents within 1/4 mile of my home. Another two under a mile. Boots just over a mile away. SE London.
The one just 400 yards away is great, does our prescriptions and our 'flu jabs (no appointment necessary, no queues unlike the surgery). And she does them correctly in the thick of the deltoid muscle!

So, to conclude the general consensus is: we are still doing ok here in the uk for independent pharmacies. Yeh 👏👏

We moved from a chain pharmacy at the end of the road to an independent about four miles away. Why? The chain pharmacy took ten days after electronic receipt of a prescription to dispense it. The independent pharmacy delivers to us the same day it receives the prescription electronically. Excellent service and kind staff.

MerylStreep

So, to conclude the general consensus is: we are still doing ok here in the uk for independent pharmacies. Yeh 👏👏

Just couldn't help it hey!

It does seem that there are huge variations around the country. Heart warming to hear that many of you still have independent pharmacies, with great service. In my experience, in the locations I've lived in and our current location, this is no longer the case- all chains.

Well, this thread has prompted me to get on with changing to a local independent. I’ve registered and got the app, all very simple. It’s even got a machine like an ATM so you can collect your meds 24/7. They send you a PIN when it’s ready, you input it into the keypad and out pops your bag of stuff.

The local Boots now only has one service point for both prescriptions and OTC medicines, so you have to queue up for ages even if you just want something for athlete’s foot or a cough. The line often snakes all the way through the baby department!

Yes I have access to a local pharmacy and they are open 6 full days per week which has been very handy. They also sell the basics in toiletries etc but nothing too extravagant.

I think Boots both large and small are going down the pan.
I suppose the internet is responsible.

pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/first-time-buyers-drive-increase-in-number-of-independently-owned-community-pharmacies
The number of independent community pharmacies in Great Britain has increased over the past three years, an analysis of General Pharmaceutical Council data by The Pharmaceutical Journal has found. 2022

What has prevented me from trying online pharmacies is that some of my prescriptions are complicated and may contraindicate. Therefore, on occasions I prefer to speak to someone face to face. I had to do this on Friday and received excellent advice from the independant pharmacist.

Fleurpepper
just couldn’t help it hey
Yes I could but I chose not to, just as you can’t help having a dig about Brexit.

MerylStreep

Fleurpepper
just couldn’t help it hey
Yes I could but I chose not to, just as you can’t help having a dig about Brexit.

How very bizarre- as I have not mentionned Brexit at all.

An independent pharmacy within walking distance, another in the next village and 2 in my nearest town. Also a Boots, Well, Lloyd's, Cohen's plus the Tesco supermarket pharmacy. The Rowlands pharmacy in a nearby village has an appalling reputation. No idea why we have so many.

Yes we have an excellent independent pharmacy here which we use plus there are two chains which never seem quite so busy.

As an aside, Rishi Sunak’s mother had her own pharmacy in Southampton when he was growing up.

wrt the chain pharmacies though, I find both our Lloyds chemists brilliant. The pharmacist at one will do consults with my daughter (who has a disability) in the car if necessary.

2 independent pharmacies.
One attached to doctors surgery.
One the in village.
Both owned by same person

Ì moved area (but still northwest) and was amused to find our local chemist is also a post office! But very efficient though and even deliver or get prescription ready much quicker than my old chemists-(often i'd go in there 2/3 days later to collect and they STILL had'nt processed it and bagged it up ready so i would have to wait!) I ordered prescription last week, at new chemists, before my holiday (from my old g.p surgery) and it was sent through elecronically (same as old chemist) but they had bagged &delivered it same day.

We have one, as well as a Morrisons pharmacy. I find the independent to be far more willing to spend time giving good advice.

Cherrytree- we had a dispensary within our doctors surgery in a rural area about 50 odd years ago(i was a nipper!) It was very efficient though.we went in to see Doc, he prescribed, he handed it through to them the pharmacist prepared & handed it over counter to my mother.All within quarter of an hour! (Much less if no one else in or just a couple of patients)