Members of the Senedd meet with Prestatyn pharmacy bringing Covid Vaccinations to the high street.

Photo: Rowlands Pharmacy Visit by Gareth Davies MS and Sam Rowlands MS (Depicted left to right; Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales, Judy Thomas - Director of Contractor Services at Community Pharmacy Wales, Sam Arnold - Regional Leader for Rowlands Pharmacy in North Wales, Tomasz Libucha – Pharmacist, Kim Noble - Pharmacy Manager, Gareth Davies MS for Vale of Clwyd)

Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies joined Sam Rowlands MS for the North Wales Region at the aptly named Rowlands Pharmacy in Prestatyn to talk with the staff and managers regarding their role within the community and during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were accompanied by representatives of Community Pharmacy Wales who represent over 700 pharmacy owners in Wales on NHS matters and are responsible for liaising with the Department of Health and for negotiating the contractual terms for the provision of the NHS community pharmacy services.

Rowlands in Prestatyn remained open throughout the lockdown periods and is now one of only 16 pharmacies in Wales involved in giving Covid Vaccinations from their branch.

Sam Arnold, Regional Leader for Rowlands Pharmacy in North Wales, said:

“Accessible healthcare on the high street is a key part of what we do as community pharmacists. By offering a Covid vaccine service in such an accessible location we have provided an opportunity for many people in Prestatyn to get their Covid jabs in a really accessible way and we are hopeful that the community pharmacy network will be a key part of the roll out of Covid booster vaccines too.”

Commenting on the visit Gareth Davies MS said;

“It’s wonderful to see the role that Community Pharmacies, such as Rowlands in Prestatyn, have in helping with the Covid-19 Vaccine roll out, and it would be great to see this continued across pharmacies in North Wales and the Vale of Clwyd as a part of the booster jab programme.”

“Pharmacies play a crucial role in supporting our NHS here in Wales, not only in their role of dispensing medication but also with relieving some pressure off of GP surgeries by offering free confidential NHS advice, common ailments services, emergency contraception and emergency supply services.”

“We need to do more to raise the profile of what can be offered via your local pharmacy here in North Wales and I must commend their services to our area staying open right through the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns.”

Judy Thomas,  Director of Contractor Services at Community Pharmacy Wales, added;

“CPW was absolutely delighted to welcome Gareth Lloyd Davies MS and Sam Rowlands MS to visit a community pharmacy so quickly into their terms of office. Both of them showed a real interest in the range of services being delivered through the network, and saw first hand how adaptable a community pharmacy can be by experiencing first hand a Covid vaccination clinic.”