Well Pharmacy yesterday (December 8) announced that it has opened its first “new-look branch” with new services, “expanded clinical space”, automated prescription collection, “accessible” pharmacy-only medicines (P-meds) and a “separate counter for guidance”.
The new “pharmacy of the future”, located in the Birchwood Shopping Centre in Warrington, will also be “the first to sell an extensive wellness range” from retailer Holland & Barrett, it said.
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This includes Holland & Barrett vitamins, supplements, nutritional products, specialist foods and wellness essentials, it added.
Well said that the new partnership creates “a combined offer that strengthens both clinical care and everyday wellness on the high street”.
“Accessible” P-meds
The “innovative” new store also features a “dedicated open-plan pharmacy-only medicines area”, the pharmacy chain revealed.
This will make P-meds “more accessible, helping customers to reach the right product and advice quickly” and improve “service efficiency”, it said.
And the pharmacy includes an automated prescription collection system to reduce waiting times and free up pharmacy colleagues to “concentrate on clinical services and patient consultations”, it added.
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This “improves the overall flow of the dispensary” with patients collecting routine prescriptions “quickly and independently” and removes “pressure from the counter” so the team can “dedicate more time to complex queries, medicines advice and personalised support”, Well said.
Two “private [and] comfortable” consultation rooms will allow the branch to “deliver more appointments each day” and “support a wide range of clinical services”, it added.
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This includes NHS and private vaccinations such as flu, pneumonia and travel jabs, as well as health screening, weight management programmes, male hair loss, ear wax removal and expert advice on supplements and lifestyle, it said.
And Well revealed that a “separate counter for guidance” will offer patients “prompt one-to-one support for everyday health concerns such as pain, allergies, minor infections, viruses, skin issues and stomach ailments”.
“Truly innovative”
Well Pharmacy chief retail officer Andrew Caplan said that the new branch “represents the future of accessible integrated health and wellness care on the high street”.
“By combining Holland & Barrett’s trusted wellness offering with our clinical services and modern dispensing technology, we’re delivering a complete, patient-centred experience that meets everyday health needs and supports long-term wellbeing,” he added.
And Holland & Barrett chief commercial officer Guy Farmer said that he is “proud to work with Well Pharmacy to deliver something truly innovative for customers”.
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“We are excited to bring together two trusted health brands to create a new kind of customer experience - one that blends clinical expertise with holistic wellness,” he added.
It comes after luxury pharmacy John Bell & Croyden – which is owned by Well parent company Bestway Healthcare - launched a “holistic medicated” weight loss service in September.
Meanwhile, a Well Pharmacy branch last month told C+D that it is “slowly getting back to normal” after an incident that resulted in thousands of pounds’ worth of stock being wasted.
