Pharmacy in Wales
Discussing all the latest news and challenges for pharmacies in Wales.
Little over a week ago we attended the glorious Vale Resort in Hensol to meet with pharmacies across Wales and UK.
EMT Healthcare have supported the Pharmacy Shows from the beginning, valuing the importance of building relationships and ensuring we are committed to continuously learning and improving our offer to customers. We discussed everything within the industry; automations, retail and more to get the latest insights from pharmacies across Wales.
We know it’s been a tough economic climate for pharmacies, especially with hikes in national insurance contributions and working without agreed contracts which dominated many of our conversations.
Saving money in financially challenging times
It’s no surprise the hot topic at the Welsh Pharmacy Show was around pharmacy funding and the challenges of running a pharmacy business. Convenience, ease and efficiency were also center to many of our conversations and this isn’t always related to ‘cost’.
One of the greatest deficiencies for pharmacy owners is time, time spent in heavy admin tasks, rather than spearheading the revenue generating activities such as common ailments services through Choose Pharmacy or Pharmacy First schemes.
We often talk to our customers on how to find savings that aren’t just about the cost of product but where to release time that would in fact generate more income vs time.
Retail: Friend or foe?
There was a varying response to pharmacy retail, with some pharmacies finding space an issue and the need to manage stock. Richard Stephenson, the brainchild behind the show, is no stranger to the value of retail and believes this is an important part of a pharmacies offer. When it is well planned and executed retail can make the difference between profit and loss.
This was the first time we showcased a small part of our retail offer at the pharmacy shows event, encouraging pharmacies to start thinking about Christmas and the type of products that traditionally do well. Our seasonal retail guide is a great place to start thinking about what could be best for your pharmacy.
Networking matters
Events like these create the valuable forums for conversations like these to happen. Richard and Amy Stephenson are passionate about giving pharmacies the much-needed forum to share ideas and showcase new innovations.
“We launched PharmacyShows in 2022 with the goal of creating small-format events tailored to the needs of pharmacy teams.
With so many finding it difficult to step away from their pharmacies for extended periods, hosting local events makes it easier for them to attend. It also gives suppliers like EMT the opportunity to engage with a wide audience in one place, in just one day—saving valuable time and resources. We greatly value EMT’s continued support as a key provider to the pharmacy sector.”
Collaboration is incredibly important in the pharmacy sector. Healthcare, patients, communities and services are rapidly evolving and it is as important for suppliers like us here at EMT Healthcare to contribute and offer solutions for this essential arm of our healthcare service in the UK.
Coming up: Scottish Pharmacy Show
If you missed this event or would like to find an event closer to you, take a look at the Pharmacy Shows website for more information. We will be attending the next event on 16th-17th September and we hope to see you there!
