19 September 2006
Next week (Monday 25 September) sees the opening in Macclesfield of one of the most modern pharmacies in the North West.
The Assura Pharmacy will open for business in the new Waters Green Health Centre, which itself only opened last month. With a staff of 15 pharmacy professionals and open for trading 100 hours a week, including late night opening and ten hours on Sundays, the new pharmacy will meet a significant local need for new and enhanced services.
Special features of the new pharmacy are its leading edge contemporary design and the use of the latest technology including a dispensing robot for medicines and prescriptions.
Customers will be able to see the dispensing robot in action through a specially installed screen. It is an automated machine which not only assists staff in the dispensing process by picking stock accurately and quickly, but also enables the pharmacists to spend more time with patients. The robot in the Assura Pharmacy is one of the largest outside a hospital in the UK and can process approximately 1,000 prescriptions per day.
Additional benefits for customers and patients include an interactive health information area and consultation rooms. Patients will be able to use a touch screen system allowing them to learn more about their conditions and medication and also print off information. In the consultation room, patients will be able to obtain additional enhanced services such as stop smoking support (including the provision of NHS funded nicotine replacement therapy) and emergency hormonal contraception.
“I am really looking forward to meeting and spending time with new patients and customers who will benefit from a highly professional service in a modern, attractive environment,” says Paul Sanderson, Pharmacy Manager.
“We aim to provide what is called an integrated service; that means we work closely with the GPs and other health professionals to meet the individual needs of each patient. Often a patient can seek treatment for an ailment quite satisfactorily from the pharmacist rather than having to make an appointment with the GP. This saves everyone time and is more convenient for patients,” added Sanderson.
This integrated policy is in line with the Government’s recently published strategy – ‘A Vision for Pharmacy in the new NHS’ – and new pharmacy regulations. Opening hours at the Assura Pharmacy are Monday to Saturday, 7am to 10pm and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. The contact telephone number is 01625 664 405.
Assura Pharmacy is part of the Medical Property Fund (MPF), which is one of the leading investors in and providers of primary care premises in the UK. MPF funded the development of the Waters Green Health Centre for the GPs and Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust. Assura Pharmacy operates a growing network of pharmacies from Scotland to the south of England.
ENDS.
Press enquiries regarding Assura Pharmacy to:
Andrew McKeon, AJM Public Relations. Tel: 0113 293 9950; Mobile: 07802 484 155
Louise Bathersby, Medical Property Fund. Tel: 020 7659 6271
