Health Centre's New On-Site Pharmacy Opens

The new prescription-only Boots pharmacy has now opened adjoining the Health Centre providing us with a one-stop service. This means you can visit your doctor and collect your medication all in one visit and this is certainly convenient.

Repeat prescriptions continue to be available at the High Street Branch and on visiting I found the familiar faces of pharmacist Jenny Cox assisted by two dispensers, Tess Rawlings and Linda Butt.

The pharmacy is bright and attractive, with seating for when you wait and a direct entrance from the Health Centre waiting room, which in addition to comfortable seating has a well-provided-for play corner for junior patients.

When I arrived I was amazed at how busy the three staff were kept as there was a constant stream of people coming in clutching prescriptions. The three staff said they are very happy to be working there but told me the restriction currently in force that they can only deal with prescriptions, means that when people ask for first aid , foot care, indigestion, incontinence, sun cream and pregnancy test medicines they are not allowed to provide them, and these are all things they have been asked for in what has been their first week. Still, perhaps this can be changed and it is clearly a very welcome new facility.

Comments

countryhousekeeper
Posts: 2

A useful facility
Reply #1 on : Wed April 11, 2012, 11:47:27

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I live just around the corner from this pharmacy and I must say it is very useful, I hope they introduce some more Boots products though as it seems very bare at the moment and to be honest I don't quite understand all the restrictions placed upon them in terms of what they sell. After all this was just a move for one of the boots in town, not another chemist opening in competition. I would love to see a full range of Boots products in the store. I think it would do very well with passing trade from the neighbouring estate where I live.

stewartbowen
Posts: 1

Health centre
Reply #2 on : Sat April 14, 2012, 16:16:04

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I am sure its great for people visiting the new health centre to have the boots prescriptions next door. Lets not forget moving the health centre has now reduced the foot fall on the high street which for many businesses is not been good at all.
The restrictions at the boots are there for a reason if these were lifted we would probably see another empty shop on the high street. It that what every one wants!!

Iain Phillips
Posts: 1

Health centre
Reply #3 on : Sun April 15, 2012, 12:12:38

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We all need to remember why the health centre moved out of the town centre - it was that despite a 7 year search for a site this was the only site available. The existing building was too small, in poor condition, no expansion space and no car parking. We were not inundated with offers of town centre land nor suggestions of where we could build. The high street has struggled for the 20 years that I have lived here. It is completely unfair to suggest that the HC moving has caused these problems.

It is sad that there has not been more celebration that Wincanton now has the finest primary care facilities in Somerset. We have taken a large personal risk and built this £2million building ourselves in order to provide the best possible care to our patients. Sometimes the criticism and moaning makes us wonder why we bothered.

countryhousekeeper
Posts: 2

The bigger picture
Reply #4 on : Mon April 23, 2012, 20:32:11

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I am sorry Stuart but I disagree and feel I need to respond. The Boots chemist next to the new Health Centre will not draw trade from the chemist in town as there were two chemists in town before and they both did fine. All they did was move one and as they are better spaced now they are undoubtedly servicing more customers.

As Iain says the new facility is superb and something for Wincanton to be proud of. The doctors and their team can now offer a first class service from first class facilities. Is that not a good thing? Further more they invested a lot of time and money to bring this facility to us.

The High Street will thrive when there is a diverse range of shops and local landlords start thinking about the good of the high street before they dish out tenancys to anyone who wants them! The new Purple Poppy Emporium will see a wide range of wonderful traders under one roof. Hopefully this type of business will attract coach parties and therefore increase the footfall for other retailers.

I for one fully support our high street - see my article for wincanton windows previously.

http://www.wincantonwindow.co.uk/be-a-savvy-shopper-and-buy-local-goods-and-services.htm

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