Galgorm-based Simpson’s Pharmacy is celebrating the launch of its new 24 hour 7 days-a-week prescription collection service, after the community focussed family business completed the installation of the PharmaSelf24 machine.
Sarah Simpson, has always had pharmacy and community in her blood. Her dad, Samuel Simpson has a pharmacy in Portglenone and a younger Sarah grew up helping in the family business.
In 2000, she made the decision to strike out on her own and set up in Galgorm and by 2004 she moved into the current purpose-built premises on the Fenaghy Road.
Sixteen years later Sarah reflects on the changes in pharmacy and especially over the difficult times faced by all in 2020.
“Myself and pharmacist Robert Allen, along with the team have always hoped and worked toward providing a welcoming space where the community can access healthcare, medicines and advice.
“This year 2020 has been challenging to say the least! However with the services we currently provide - the Minor Ailments Service and Pharmacy First - for sore throats and common cold, we can still offer advice and if necessary treatment for these conditIons and many more.
“Since the beginning of this year and more so after Covid, we had been thinking about how we can better serve our community. That's when we found PharmaSelf24 with the aim to enable patients to have easier access to their medicine.”
The new PharmaSelf machine operates like an ATM - except it dispenses prescriptions rather than cash! This now allows Simpson’s to offer prescription collection 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, even when the pharmacy shop is closed!
Sarah continued: “This new service also means thats patients who are shielding, or even just short of time, do not need to come in store and wait to collect their prescriptions. A text message is sent to their phone letting them know that they have 3 days to collect their medicines from the machine. All they have to do is simply type in a six digit code into the machine on the outside of the pharmacy and their medicines are dispensed!”
Simpson’s Pharmacy will still offer the traditional walk-in prescription collection, of course, though many will find the new ‘anytime’ service more convenient.
“Anyone who can use an ATM can use a PharmaSelf24,” explained Sarah.
“We invested in the PharmaSelf24 because we believe that it will help our patients during this time - and afterward the convenience offered to the community in accessing their medicines, when it suits them will be a big bonus.”
The new PharmaSelf24 machine arriving at Galgorm last week
There are still plenty of excuses to pop into the pharmacy shop though, with an extensive stock and the friendly service that the local community has come to expect from Simpson’s.
Right now you can pick up a few early Christmas gifts with a number of current promotions, including 20% off the Jenny Glow perfume range, and 10% off Sholin and Best Kept Secrets Candle range.
Simpson’s Pharmacy is opened Monday to Friday, 9am- 5.30pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm), and Saturday, 9am -1pm. Of course the PharmaSelf24 service never closes!
If you would like more information and to avail of the new PharmaSelf24 service, contact the pharmacy on 028 2563 9707.