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First Boots drive-through opens
Rex Features
The first ever drive-through Boots chemist has opened in the UK, on land where a former McDonald's restaurant once stood.
Customers can arrive at the window of the new drive-through, hand over their prescription at the first counter and collect their medication at the second counter within two minutes.
The super-speedy new service has opened in Colchester, Essex, and will act as a pilot scheme, which if popular, will be expanded throughout the UK.
Over 3,000 drive-through chemists have already been introduced across America – based on the drive-through fast food chains like McDonald's - and have proved highly successful.
The manager of the new Essex store said: 'It works just like a restaurant drive-through. You take your prescription up to the first hatch, put it in, the information is checked and then the items are dispensed at the second window, without leaving the car.
'It's lightning fast - instead of fast food it's fast medicine.'
He added: 'It's ideal for people with children or who are disabled. You don't have to worry about finding a parking space, getting the children out of the car seat and into a buggy or a person into a wheelchair. It's all done without stepping out of the car.'
The chemist also sells make-up, fragrances and photo printing.
Thursday 21 August 2008
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I agree with pharmatron's comments. It is comments like those of JJ, that lead to this type of service being developed. Patients do not understand the role of the pharmacist - the reason you have to wait on a sat is because the pharmacist is trying to sort out the problems for you - so that sometimes all that you are asked is to confirm who you are to ensure you get the correct medicines.
Pharmacists do not just follow what the doctor as written - this would be unsafe and unprofessional.
Comment by outraged on August 25 14:44
I think it's a brilliant idea no need to go into the pharmacy when feeling unwell. As for the level of advice surely I can speak to the pharmacist just the same from my car as I can by standing in front of them in the store.
Comment by JLH on August 24 20:32
Having worked for Boots as a student and registered pharmacist for 4 years and also being currently employed in the USA for 7 years with Walgreens. I feel this is a step in the right direction to make it convenient ofr those patients with special needs. Consultations with a pharmacist are always avaialable in person or on the telephone.
Comment by fareeda on August 24 01:56
As a pharmacist I think this is ridiculous. It undermines our professionalism, how on earth can dispensing potentially dangerous medicines be compared to supplying burgers? I have experience of dispensing and checking medicines and if this process occurs within only two minutes I think this is dangerous and may lead to serious dispensing errors. Yet again Boots puts generating money before upholding the professionalism of pharmacists.
Comment by pharmatron on August 22 08:07
Except that in this country very few pharmacists will question a prescription. They just do what the DR has filled out and give to the customer - the only questions I'm ever asked is, "do you pay for your prescriptions?"
Comment by JJ on August 21 22:23
Interesting.
Comment by gunes on August 21 21:51
When you hand in your prescription to a pharmacist in store they just check your address so I don't see how this service differs greatly regarding quality and security. Personally I think this is a brilliant service and one I look forward to having in my local town before too long. I don't want to have to queue at a counter on a Saturday to get medication which has been prescribed by my GP - this is an ideal time saving solution with no loss of service.
Comment by Claire on August 21 19:09
I agree with learnprn's comments. I live in America, and even we don't fill prescriptions like that! Usually you drop off your prescription at the pharmacy drive-through, pick it up an hour or two later depending on how busy they are. When picking it up you are given the opportunity to talk to a pharmacist and must sign a paper so they know who picked it up.
Comment by Kim on August 21 15:36
Lol, wonder how you test the fragrances ...
Comment by ashley on August 21 14:07
Are we really this incredibly lazy?!
Comment by claire on August 21 13:45
Fast food and fast medicine - not exactly the same. The whole point of getting your medicines at the pharmacy is to have access to the professional advice service from the pharmacist. Why does this country have to always be like America. Another example of corporate world trying to decimate the independent pharmacist.
Comment by learnprn on August 21 12:59
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