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Despite being relatively new to the dispensing doctor market as a short-liner, Bestway Medhub is seeing exponential growth in the market in addition to the 3,500 independent pharmacies that we service and deliver to. We have however been servicing the dispensing doctor market for well over 40 years through our dispensing appliance contractor (DAC) Wardles. Wardles service and supply more than 55% of all dispensing sites with dressings, bandages, appliances, ostomy, wound care and hosiery. Graham Burford-Row To meet the needs of dispensing practices and surgeries we carry a large range of more than 10,000 Generics, PI's and OTC products. We offer net pricing so the practice can see straight away what price they are paying for their products - with no hidden fees. We offer all our practices 24-hour online ordering via our Bestway Medhub ordering portal and our recently launched Wardles FP Portal. Additionally, we have the backup of a telesales department with personal service from myself and a dedicated Internal Dispensing Dr Account Manager. We offer daily, weekly or monthly calls to those customers wishing to hear our special offers. Our deliveries are done daily via our third party full-line logistics partner for efficient deliveries, which no other short-line wholesaler offers. Bestway Medhub understands that dispensing practices are not only in the business of offering superior care to their patients and community, but they also offer numerous other services like clinics, nursing and referrals. By enabling practices to cost save, the funds could be used elsewhere instead.

Summersdale Pharmacy, originally established by local doctors at Lavant Road Surgery, has been sold for an undisclosed amount. Located just outside Chichester town centre and attached to the local GP surgery, the pharmacy dispenses around 10,000 items per month. Following the retirement of some doctors, the remaining GPs decided to sell the pharmacy, with specialist business property adviser Christie and Co handling the transaction. The pharmacy has been acquired by experienced multiple operators Mohamed Amiralli and Kardo Ali through a joint venture. Ali highlighted their intention to build upon the strong foundations laid by the previous owners. He noted that the pharmacy's close relationship with the local GP surgery presents "a unique opportunity to provide even greater care and service to the community."

Chemix Group, an independent contractor, has acquired a high-dispensing Darlington pharmacy, previously owned by Middleton Healthcare Limited for 22 years. The pharmacy, located in the village of Middleton St George near a GP surgery, dispenses an average of 10,874 items per month, according to Christie and Co, which brokered the deal. Middleton Healthcare Limited, a consortium of three GPs, decided to sell the pharmacy as part of their retirement plans, the broker said. Chemix Group, which also owns a pharmacy in Halifax, secured the acquisition through a confidential sales process with Christie and Co. Prashanth Takkallapally and Harendra Patel, directors at Chemix Group, shared that, being local to the area, they knew this was the right pharmacy to add to their expanding group. "We look forward to growing the business and implementing our plans to improve healthcare in the village," they said. Patrick Holmes, the former owner of Middleton Pharmacy, expressed satisfaction with the sale, saying, "We are very happy with the outcome of handing over the business to new owners and keeping the business local.

Community pharmacies, like any business, face financial challenges, and one significant concern is managing cash flow. Your business requires cash flow to pay for stock, suppliers, operational costs, taxes and service bank debts and these need to be matched with cash inflows from NHS remuneration, Over The Counter (OTC) sales and HMRC VAT refunds otherwise you could find yourself in a vicious circle. If cash flow is not monitored, you will find the business juggling to settle its liabilities as they fall due. If suppliers are not paid on time, they will not send vital supplies which in turn results in customers going elsewhere. If staff/locums are not paid on time, your patients will suffer due to lack of staff or even poor service levels from demotivated staff. HMRC can issue debt recovery proceedings against the business if debts remain unpaid. Lenders will be keeping a keen eye on the management accounts to ensure the business remains strong and is able to settle its financial obligations as they fall due. Let's explore how UK community pharmacies can identify potential cash flow problems and implement strategies to navigate these challenges effectively. Dispensed items If you are experiencing a drop in the average number of items you are dispensing over time, then it could mean customers could be going elsewhere. Loss of customers will mean less income for the business, and it is always difficult to get them back especially when they have gone to a local competitor. You need to keep an eye on this indicator and investigate any drop in numbers. Implement alternative strategies as to how you may increase this for example through partnerships with local community centres, GP surgeries, colleges, etc.

A policy brief, developed by researchers from the University of Bath and University of Strathclyde with funding from Sigma Pharmaceuticals, has recommended the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS to increase community pharmacy funding to avoid damaging closures and diminution of quality. The report launched on Wednesday (12 June) at an event in the House of Commons, attended by Members of Parliament, senior policymakers and the pharmacy industry, analysed community pharmacy policies and spoke to stakeholders to explore their opinions of the future of community pharmacy. It was found that patients value their community pharmacies, but staff feel demotivated, insecure and undervalued. Stakeholders and policies suggested that in the future, medicines should be supplied by automated 'hub and spoke' dispensing, enabling community pharmacy staff to provide services that relieve pressure on GP surgeries, such as long-term conditions management, urgent care and public health.

A community pharmacy in Consett, County Durham, North East England, has been sold to a locum pharmacist after the previous owner decided to put it on the market following 29 years of ownership. Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, recently announced the sale of Moorside Pharmacy, a 30-hour community pharmacy that dispenses an average of 3,200 NHS items per month. Located 1.5 miles west of Consett, the pharmacy shares a building with a small GP surgery in Moorside. Rachel Hurst, who has owned it since 1995, brought it to the market to downsize her operations and focus on her busier pharmacies - one in Consett and two in Crook, County Durham, according to the broker. Following a confidential sales process, locum pharmacist Monju Miah has acquired the pharmacy. He plans to manage it hands-on and introduce additional services that will benefit the local population, the broker stated.