Moss launches Total Health pharmacy
Moss Pharmacy has launched a new store format —
Total Health — which the company says heralds the future of community
pharmacy retailing. The first Total Health store was opened last week
at Cannock, Staffordshire, by conservationist Professor David Bellamy.
The store features combined displays of pharmacy
only (P) and general sale list (GSL) medicines grouped within therapeutic
categories. For now, P medicines are locked behind perspex doors but the
com-pany is hoping to pilot self-selection of P medicines.
“At the moment we are testing the combined therapeutic
categories but we have the option for open display,” said Cathy Wagg,
Moss’s marketing development executive, at the opening of the pharmacy.
An intercom system links the part of the store where the medicines are
displayed to an earpiece worn by the pharmacist and ensures that any consultation
between customers and pharmacy staff can be supervised.
“The pharmacist can hear the conversation and intervene
if necessary,” said Ms Wagg. She added that this way of displaying medicines
made them more high profile and allowed customers to browse more easily.
“Total Health takes into account the Government’s NHS plan, to give the
patient greater accessibility to health care and to empower them to make
health care choices.” Commenting on the proposed pilot, Steve Duncan,
managing director of Moss, said that the company took the issue of self-selection
of P medicines seriously. “It is important that we do not do anything
to devalue pharmacy,” he said.
Ms Wagg told The Journal that the next Total
Health store would be opened in Norwich in September. She said that the
new pharmacies would be assessed this year and that the company planned
to take the most successful elements from each of them to other stores.
In addition to the combined P and GSL medicines,
Moss’s Total Health pharmacy at Cannock features zones for all health
care categories and includes a complementary remedies zone, a health information
zone and a foot care zone. The information zone includes a library with
health-related CDs, books and videos. Customers can rent the educational
videos for a charge of £3 for two nights. “The videos cost £17 each to
buy, so providing a rental service puts the information in reach of more
customers,” said Ms Wagg.
A heart risk assessment service is provided in the
pharmacy and allows customers to access information about their risk for
heart disease via a touch screen computer. A print-out is generated, which
the pharmacist goes through with the customer. If at risk, the customer
is offered a more detailed check, including blood pressure and cholesterol
measurement. A half-hour consultation costs £20.
Within the pharmacy at Cannock there is a consultation
room where customers can talk to the pharmacist in private. There is also
a therapy room where additional services from complementary practitioners
will be provided. At present, a chiropodist works at the pharmacy two
days a week. Customers can also make use of a telephone service to an
occupational therapist who can provide advice on products available from
a living-aid catalogue.
A large plasma screen in the centre of the pharmacy
displays information related to seasonal ranges and services, and lets
customers know when their prescription is ready for collection. The screen
also provides information about other local health care services, such
as general practices.
Mr Duncan said that Moss was trying to provide better
access to services and to make customers more aware of the services on
offer. Commenting on the pharmacist’s role, Mr Duncan said: “The pharmacist
belongs in the front of the store offering advice to customers. The pharmacist
should be publicly accessible.”
As part of the Total Health concept, Moss has employed
both a second pharmacist and a retail manager to work within the Cannock
store. “We have tried to separate out the retail and professional services,”
he said.
He added that Cannock had been chosen to pilot the
new concept because the customer base that the pharmacy served was a broad
one. The pharmacy is also large enough, at 120 square metres, to house
the different elements of the Total Health concept.
In line with Moss’s focus on health care, the new
pharmacy stocks only a reduced range of medicated toiletries and products
such as nappies, sanitary products and hair and skin care products.
Back to Top
|
