Deputy health minister for Wales opens rebranded Cardiff Bay branch and receives one of the first winter flu jabs of 2015.
The former Co-operative Pharmacy branches in Cardiff have been re-launched following change of ownership – and are now all operating with a new look and a new name, as part of the UK’s largest independent pharmacy chain, ‘Well’.
At the new Well pharmacy at Bute Street, Cardiff Bay – first to re-launch – deputy health minister for Wales and Welsh Assembly member, Vaughan Gething, also received one of the company’s first winter flu jab of the season.
Mr Gething sampled Well’s no-appointment-necessary flu jab service, which is the most effective way of preventing seasonal flu and passing it on to family and friends. In many cases, the jab can be provided for free following GP referral. For example, Well customers aged over 65, those who are pregnant, diabetic or asthmatic, and those with lung, heart, kidney and liver diseases can all expect to receive the service at no cost.
The changes apply to a total of 15 local pharmacies in Cardiff, at the following locations:
- Bute Place, Quayside, Cardiff Bay
- Caerphilly Road
- Bute Street, Butetown
- Clare Road, Grangetown
- Holmesdale Street, Grangetown
- Countisbury Avenue, Llanrumney
- Boverton Road, Llantwit Major
- St Davids Medical Centre, Pentwyn Drive
- Station Road, Radyr
- Heol Llanishen, Rhiwbina
- City Road, Roath
- City Road, Roath
- Upper Clifton Street, Roath
- Wentloog Road, Rumney
- Abergele Road, Trowbridge
The transformation of Cardiff’s Well Pharmacies is part of a five-year, £200million investment in the high street pharmacy chain by new owner, Bestway Group.
In total, 780 pharmacies in the UK are changing from The Co-operative Pharmacy and are to become Well, following Bestway Group’s £620million acquisition of business from The Co-operative Group, in October last year.
Well aims to facilitate increased access to high quality pharmacy services, providing personalised healthcare and products that meet the needs of local communities and help relieve the increasing pressure on the NHS.
Neal Cadden, regional manager for Well in Cardiff said: “We are excited to unveil the new look pharmacies and all of our branch colleagues are looking forward to providing personalised health and wellbeing services, as they continue to serve the local communities in Cardiff.
“It’s great to be able to use our rebrand to highlight the additional services Well offers community residents and to have a representative from the Welsh Assembly here to showcase it. Like many of our services, the winter flu jab allows Cardiff residents to take control of their own personal health, as well as relieving pressure on GPs and the NHS.”
As a provider of primary healthcare, Well pharmacies are here to save customers trips to their GP, local hospital A&E or help them make healthy lifestyle changes.
In addition to dispensing prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, Well’s professional pharmacists provide personalised healthcare and wellbeing and valued products, in a friendly and compassionate way so that every customer can make the most of their health.
Well pharmacists offer confidential advice and products for customer’s wellbeing, minor ailments, specialist health services such as smoking cessation and weight management and management of medicines.
For pharmacy opening times or to find out more about Well, see: www.well.co.uk. Contact a GP or a Well pharmacist for further information regarding the flu jab service and eligibility for free immunisation for 2015.
