Rowlands on track to convert 70 ‘concept pharmacies’ by the end of the year
Rowlands is on track to convert 70 of its branches across the UK into “concept pharmacies” by the end of the year, it has told C+D.
The multiple – which has more than 450 pharmacies across Scotland, England and Wales – has already converted 54 of the 70 branches.
The last 16 are set to be completed in the next two months, Tricia Marsh, head of central operations at Rowlands, told C+D.
“This is still very much in plan,” she added.
It comes after the multiple’s managing director, Nigel Swift, told C+D in April that Rowlands had set a target to convert 70 branches, which would “focus on services”.
Key to all 70 “newly refreshed” pharmacies is a “real presence around medicines”, particularly in terms of pain management related support, Mr Swift confirmed.
Free self-service health stations
Last September, Rowlands launched its flagship “state-of-the-art” concept pharmacy in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, which combines “traditional dispensing services” with new technology.
“The Rowlands Ellon concept branch has proven popular so far,” Ms Marsh told C+D.
“Since the launch of the pharmacy, we have introduced a travel vaccine service and the pharmacy can provide a range of travel vaccinations – all of which are bookable online or in branch,” she added.
The branch has an automated 24-hour prescription collection point, ‘PharmaSelf’, which allows customers to collect prescriptions at any point during the day, she explained.
Read more: Rowlands records £34.6m loss and 14% drop in employees in a year
A free self-service ‘Sisu Health Station’ also allows patients to measure their body mass index, blood pressure and body fat.
“Users have access to a free online health dashboard where they can then track their progress and access free health improvement plans and programs online, or receive healthy living advice from the pharmacy team depending on their preference,” Ms Marsh added.
Earlier this year, Rowlands also launched a private weight management service pilot in 100 pharmacies across England, Scotland and Wales, with the aim of extending the pilot across its UK network.
In September, a spokesperson for the multiple confirmed to C+D that it had become a “permanent addition to the portfolio that Rowlands Pharmacy offers” in the 100 branches.
“We continue to review the performance of the service and hope to expand it in the New Year,” they added.
