Two pharmacies on the Isle of Wight have extended their opening hours to 8:30pm on designated weekdays.
It comes after an Isle of Wight Council pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) published last September highlighted a “gap in the provision of urgent prescription services during evening hours”.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB said Boots in Sandown will provide extended hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, while Day Lewis in Newport will cover Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
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It added that the pharmacies will begin their new hours from October 19 - but Sandown Boots told C+D that its extended hours start from October 26.
Last year’s PNA also revealed that just one of the the Isle of Wight’s 25 pharmacies is open after 6:30pm during the week.
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It outlined that “better access to urgent prescription services would be secured if evening provision is fully implemented”.
Before extending their hours, Boots in Sandown was open until 5:00pm on weekdays, while Day Lewis in Newport closed at 5:30pm.
“Practical step”
Director of neighbourhood health for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight James Roach said “extending core contracted pharmacy hours until 8:30pm is a practical step towards making pharmacy services more accessible across the island”.
Boots Isle of Wight area manager Karen Alexander said she was “pleased to support the extended evening pharmacy provision”.
“Extended opening gives our local community greater flexibility to access pharmacy advice and support, including information about NHS Pharmacy First,” she added.
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And a spokesperson for Day Lewis pharmacy said they hope the additional hours “will make it easier for people to access pharmacy support around their work and family commitments and help them find the right care when they need it”.
They added that Day Lewis also provides access to 24/7 prescription collection kiosks at their Newport, Cowes, Shanklin and Wootton Bridge locations on the island.
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It comes after the Pharmacists’ Defence Association confirmed earlier this month that a range of Boots pharmacy roles are in line for a pay rise from November 1.
And it follows Day Lewis accounts published last month for the 2025/26 financial year showing a “very pleasing” 11% rise in pharmacy services income.
