The Swindon pharmacists who hope to set up a new branch in Old Town have spoken about their plans. Priesh Patel wants to open a pharmacy inside the High Street Co-op to restore health services to the area that were lost when the Rowlands there and the Wood Street Boots closed. The nearest available one at the moment is at the bottom of Victoria Hill.
NHS England has received his team’s application for a licence that would allow them to set up the site and he is calling on the community to show their support for the bid, which was sent in at the end of January. Mr Patel said: “We noticed a gap in the market when Rowlands closed so we considered our options and got advice from an agent that represents us. “During that back and forth, we learned of Boots closing, so we thought there would be a good case for us to fill that gap.
“Victoria Hill is very steep and not something you want to walk up and down, especially in this heat. “The supermarket has good accessibility, plenty of parking, it has everything. “Co-op has been very good to us.
They want a pharmacy there, they see the need for it, and said that they are holding the position until our application is approved." The family business manages four pharmacies in Swindon, including Hawthorn Pharmacy in Gorse Hill, which has been in business for more than 30 years. If all goes well and their application gets approved, the new pharmacy would stay open until 7.
30pm from Monday to Friday and until the late afternoon on.
