LS17 has seen a transformation of the Alwoodley Medical Centre’s pharmacy with fabulous new branding and a new internal layout, all part of a new business with local family connections. JLife finds out what’s been going on and how it will benefit the community.
The pharmacy at the Alwoodley Medical Centre is on a mission to re-invent pharmacy. Alwoodley’s premier pharmacy, formerly The Pharmacy Group will now be known as Pharmacy+Health since being bought by HubRx, founded by Daniel Lee, local entrepreneur and son of Leeds pharmacist, Rodney.
The Pharmacy Group was originally founded in 1984 by Barry Lestner and his son David who ironically were in local competition with the Lee family. Jason Lestner will be continuing the local family connection as the COO of the new business, with Daniel assuming the role of CEO.
Pharmacy+Health and has already seen a number of changes both structurally and operationally at the site. Noticeably the new interior means there will be a focus on- medical products available to purchase and there is now space for three state-of-the-art consultation rooms for the highly qualified team to offer consultations in line with the NHS strategy to take pressure off the GPs.
“Changes have been coming,” said Daniel. “Independent pharmacies have been struggling for a while and are chronically underfunded and stretched with increasing costs. By using our amazing, automated pharmacy hub, HubRx, the pharmacy teams can focus their time e on delivering a wide range of clinical services, funded by NHS and privately such as weight loss, vaccinations, test and treat, and non-critical every day common conditions. We want to educate everyone that our clinical pharmacists can provide the care and treatment you need without a trip to the GP.”
So what is the futuristic HubRx all about? “It is the UK’s first automated hub and spoke facility of its kind,” Daniel says. “An amazing 40,000 sq. ft facility with a £10 million investment, being trialled here in Leeds. Dispensing of repeat prescriptions will be undertaken from the automated facility rather than in the local pharmacy ensuring dispensing accuracy and saving valuable time in every step of the process. It’s a massive positive for smaller pharmacy groups as the costs for prescriptions using automated dispensing tech externally is lower allowing our teams to offer more clinical services.”
Jason was keen to stress how the new look pharmacy and its technology will benefit the community: “Previously customers would re-order a prescription online, then coming a couple of days later hoping it would be ready. Now they will get a text message 48 hours after the order to say it’s ready to collect. We are offering so much more to patients and supporting the GPs, and customers can now book appointments on our new website for a variety of services.”
Following the trial at Alwoodley, the plan is to roll out the new look across their group of over 50 pharmacies, and to offer the use of Hubrx to small independent groups to be able to benefit. Jason added: “We look forward to delivering an improved service and welcoming old and new customers to the pharmacy.”
See the range of consultations available and book an appointment at Pharmacyplushealth.co.uk