Kettering family-owned pharmacy marks 40 years in business
A Kettering family-owned pharmacy has marked four decades in business with treats for customers and an anniversary trip for staff.
Mill Road Pharmacy was founded by Anil Patel and his wife Hema – also a pharmacist – taking over the previous business run by PW Tomlinson.
The couple took on the shop after a move from Colchester, living above the store in Windmill Avenue for several years.
Over the 40 years, Mr and Mrs Patel have seen big changes – as well as providing prescriptions, they are now the first stop for health care advice with the Pharmacy First model giving patients easy access to advice and treatment.
Mr Patel said: “When the shop came up for sale, I came here as a locum to see what it was like – it was a big change but we made the decision to move.
"We enjoy it. We have seen whole families, whole generations. It’s a community. We hope that people value that.”
Over the years, the independent shop has been extended and the service expanded to offer vaccinations and other services that GPs used to treat.
Walk-in customers can be treated for seven common health conditions – sinusitis, sore throats, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and urinary tract infections.
Mr Patel said: “It’s more clinical now. Getting to see a GP is much more difficult. If we are able to help, we do our bit. Pharmacies are the first line for health care.
“We have a new medication service, we offer private vaccinations, as well as NHS, we offer blood pressure monitoring.
"We have a great staff team and it’s nice to work with the customers. It is an endless job.”
The pharmacy has seen a recent investment of a £100,000 dispensing robot to help staff deal with prescriptions more efficiently.
Dispenser Melanie Clarke was already working at the shop when the Patels took over and thinks the key to the shop’s longevity is the customer service, and although there is a high demand and more paperwork, she loves the job.
She said: “The Patels really are lovely people. People trust them, they go above and beyond to help people.
"It’s like a happy family, we look after each other. It’s a nice thing to see customers, you see them as babies and they come back with their own children.
"People come in and ask for me because I have been there forever!”
Long-term customer Lorraine Dartnell used to live around the corner in Washington Square, and despite a move to the other side of town, she wouldn’t use anywhere else.
She said: “I always use Mill Road Pharmacy because it’s so good. Mr Patel was so good to my husband – he made sure he got everything he needed.”
The staff are all being taken on the Eurostar to Brussels to celebrate the 40-year milestone, a trip paid for by the Patels. On the 25th anniversary they all went to Paris.
With two other pharmacists working at the shop, the couple have more time to devote to their passion for travelling, but they will still be behind the counter for customers.
Mrs Patel added: “It’s having that familiar face. Here you are not a number, you are a person."