When we found out Westbury Chemist had won Pharmacy Business of the Year 2024, I paused.
Not because we didn’t deserve it—but because I knew this award wasn’t just about what we had done. It was proof that even with the pressures we face today, community pharmacy can still thrive.
If you’re running a pharmacy right now, you know the deal—new NHS contract, rising costs, more services, less time. It’s a lot.
But I want to share a few things that helped us not only survive but grow. Maybe they’ll encourage you too.
1. We Chose to Innovate With Purpose
Innovation shouldn’t just look good—it should work.
At Westbury Chemist, we focused on meaningful solutions:
- A dispensing robot to improve accuracy and efficiency.
- Staying open from 9am to midnight, 365 days a year—because patients don’t stop needing care at 6pm.
- A personalised pharmacy app so patients could order and track prescriptions easily.
💡 Lesson: You don’t need every piece of tech. Just choose the right ones that solve real problems for your patients.
2. We Took Risks Others Wouldn’t
We made bold moves:
- Refitted the entire pharmacy during economic uncertainty.
- Hired staff to expand services, even before all funding was guaranteed.
- Stayed open when others were reducing hours.
Some said it was too risky. But we saw it as leading with faith and foresight.
💡 Lesson: If you’ve got a vision, trust it. The new contract rewards those who step forward—not those waiting on perfect conditions.
3. We Kept People at the Heart of It All
This is where everything comes together.
- We invest in our team—training, trusting, supporting.
- We treat our patients as individuals, not just numbers.
- We show up for our community—consistently, not just when it’s convenient.
💡 Lesson: Tech and services matter—but people make the difference. Your culture, your relationships, your reputation—these are your real assets.
So What Can You Do Today?
Here are 3 simple but powerful steps you can take:
- Review your accessibility. Are your hours, systems, and communication making it easy for patients to reach you?
- Automate wisely. Free up time by automating things like prescription reminders, repeat ordering, or basic admin.
- Empower your team. Give them ownership. Let them lead projects and services. You don’t have to do it all yourself.
Final Thoughts
Winning this award didn’t mean we had it all figured out.
It meant we chose to keep adapting, innovating, and believing there’s still a powerful future in pharmacy.
And here’s the good news: that future isn’t reserved for the biggest budgets. It’s open to any pharmacy willing to lead with purpose, people, and progress.
Let’s keep showing the world what pharmacy can be.
