Returning customers have “hugged us” and “cried with us,” manager of the new NHS contracted service at East Cowes Medical Centre, Angie Chappell, said this morning (Friday, April 10) in an interview.
The premises on Church Path has not had a pharmacy since previous provider Jhoots shut in September last year, with staff members going without pay for months and pressure piled on the neighbouring Regent store.
It is now under the umbrella of the Allied Pharmacies group.
Ms Chappell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “There are loads of people that just want to come back to us. They’ve missed having the option of two pharmacies – sometimes you’ve used all the stock – the other pharmacy can help.
“They’re (staff) on cloud nine, it’s amazing. The company we work for now, Allied, are so supportive. If you’ve got any questions, they’re there straight away.”
The pharmacist said the new branch can do everything any other pharmacy does, citing COVID jabs or the Pharmacy First service.
“We’ve tried to make it easy for the patient as well – we do services where we can order for the patients, we can call them, text them,” she said.
“The main focus with this company is patient-centred care.
“Sometimes we do order medication that’s more expensive than what we’ll get reimbursed for it because the cheaper one might be out of stock and they’ve (Alliance) told us you can order for the patient, it’s fine.”
Other benefits Alliance can offer include free delivery and tray services, they said.
Asked about recent pharmacy burglaries, the pharmacist said new shutters would make break-ins harder and added that the branch was not previously broken into.
After visiting the East Cowes Medical Centre this morning, independent ward councillor Karl Love said: “They say they’ve got a full-time pharmacist which is good news and that they’re going to be opening a full service.
“I wish them well and it will take some time to win back the confidence of local people. The proof will be in their ability to provide the services in a way which is accessible to all.”
He added that the pharmacy intends to start running home free deliveries from the end of next week.
