Gagan Mohindra, MP Visits Riverside Pharmacy, Rickmansworth
Gagan Mohindra, MP for South West Hertfordshire, joined Riverside pharmacy in Rickmansworth this week for a special “work experience” session aimed at highlighting the day-to-day pressures facing community pharmacies and the critical role they play in the NHS.
During the two-hour visit on Wednesday 6 August, Mr Mohindra saw first-hand the complex and fast-paced environment that pharmacy teams operate in. He also spoke to patients to understand from them the pivotal role of pharmacists for the local community.
The visit was organised by Community Pharmacy Hertfordshire and Mr Mohindra was put to work to help understand the importance of local pharmacy teams in delivering frontline healthcare. The recent Pharmacy Pressures Survey by the national body Community Pharmacy England, found that 95% of pharmacy teams say patients are still being inconvenienced by medicine shortages. Community Pharmacy England is calling on the Government to ensure pharmacies are fairly reimbursed for the medicines they supply.
Gagan Mohindra (MP for South West Hertfordshire) said:
“Pharmacies are a vital part of the NHS, often acting as the first port of call for patients seeking advice, treatment or reassurance. Spending time behind the counter today really opened my eyes to the volume and complexity of the work pharmacy teams manage on a daily basis, from sourcing medicines in the face of national shortages to supporting people with long-term conditions and minor illnesses.”
Tushar Shah (Store Manager) and Nikita Raja (Superintendent Pharmacist) at Riverside Pharmacy said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Gagan to the pharmacy today and give him an insight into the vital work we do every day. As we support a growing number of patients, pharmacy teams are working incredibly hard under significant pressure.
“Visits like this are so important in showing just how essential we are to the health and wellbeing of our communities, and why sustained investment in community pharmacy is needed now more than ever.”
