A visit from The Mayor and Mayoress of Dorchester, Councillor Les Fry and Mrs Julie Fry, marked the completion of a transformative renovation project for one the area’s leading independent pharmacies.

Staff at Victoria Park Pharmacy in Dorchester were delighted to welcome The Mayor and Mayoress to its new-look store, and give a tour of the operations from its renovated dispensary.

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During the visit, Pharmacy Manager, Charlotte Dear, explained how, due to the increase in services offered by pharmacies as a result of the government’s ‘Pharmacy First’ programme, the refurbishment of the property includes two private consultation rooms, maximised storage facilities and an extended workroom to accommodate an ever-growing demand for prescriptions and health products.

“I have been really impressed with the changes,” said Councillor Fry. “Myself and family members regularly use Victoria Park Pharmacy, so it is very pleasing to see that the owners have seen fit to invest in the business for the benefit of both staff and customers.”

Established over 40 years ago, Victoria Park Pharmacy was taken over by independent pharmacy specialists, the JCL Group ten years later in August 2021. After an assessment of the site and its activities, consultation and careful planning, a complete overhaul began at the start of this year which, at one point, necessitated staff operating from an adapted container for six weeks.

“The end result certainly makes those few weeks of restrictions worth it,” said Councillor Fry. “The store is modern, light and airy - a really good job.”

With pharmacies becoming an increasingly vital part of the primary healthcare, the team at Victoria Park explained to Councillor Fry how they now feel they have a workspace fit for both present demands and the future.

“We were very proud to show The Mayor and Mayoress all we now have to offer our patients and customers,” said Charlotte. “It gave us a huge boost and we are now focussing on fulfilling the potential of our community pharmacy offering, especially as the season for flu and COVID vaccinations has begun.”