Broughton Boots praised for vital community services

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has praised the team at Boots in Broughton after visiting the store to learn more about the services it offers to the local community.

Mr Rowlands was invited to the branch to see first-hand how the pharmacy supports both patients and customers through a mix of healthcare and retail services.

“It was great to have the opportunity to meet with the team at Boots in Broughton and see for myself the range of retail and pharmacy services they deliver to our local community,” he said.

“As the NHS in Wales continues to struggle and people find it difficult sometimes to make an appointment with a doctor, it is good to see how pharmacies like Boots have stepped up to support the system.”

He highlighted the important role community pharmacies play in reducing pressure on local GPs and hospitals, saying: “Pharmacists in the stores are able to offer health advice and dispense prescriptions, which all helps to ease the pressures on local surgeries and hospitals.”

During the visit, Mr Rowlands also learned about the company’s longstanding partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support. Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists (BMIPs) are specially trained to offer advice and emotional support to people living with cancer and their families.

“I was also very impressed to hear about the company’s partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and the introduction of Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists who are specially trained to offer support and advice to cancer patients and their families,” Mr Rowlands added.

He also remarked on the broad range of services provided in-store: “I was delighted to see the retail and pharmacy services on offer and even had the chance for a make-over with an expert.”

Boots has been operating in Wales for more than 125 years and today employs 1,600 people across its 90 stores. It remains one of the largest employers of healthcare professionals outside of the NHS.

The company has positioned itself as a key partner to both the NHS and Health Boards in Wales, offering patients accessible healthcare services, support with prescriptions, and specialist help through its community partnerships.

Working alongside organisations such as The Hygiene Bank and Macmillan Cancer Support, Boots aims to strengthen local support networks and help people lead healthier lives. The BMIP programme has now trained over 4,000 pharmacists, covering areas such as treatment side effects, nutrition, fertility, and emotional wellbeing.

Recent research by Macmillan Cancer Support suggests that around 780,000 people living with cancer in the UK are finding it harder to access general healthcare and treatment since the pandemic, making community-based support even more vital.