Oldham Road Pharmacy shines with Community Spirit

Oldham Road Pharmacy officially reopened by Mayor Ray Dutton, Simon Danczuk, Lynne Brosnan and 100-year-old Gladys Liddell

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Oldham Road Pharmacy, which has served Rochdale people for over a century, has unveiled the results of its major makeover and the launch of a new travel clinic with a party for patients and local residents.

Staff at Oldham Road Pharmacy in Balderstone, Rochdale were joined by guests including the Mayor Ray Dutton, local MP Simon Danczuk, Councillor Lynne Brosnan and patients and customers like 100-year-old Gladys Liddell at the event celebrating its refurbishment. The pharmacy is the only retail outlet on the Oldham Road parade of shops that has kept its original identity as a chemist. Where outlets around them have opened and closed, Oldham Road Pharmacy has proven to be a mainstay for the local community.

Whilst cutting the ribbon to officially reopen the pharmacy Gladys reflected on the 65 years she has used the pharmacy.

“We moved up to Balderstone in 1952 so we have seen some changes over the years but this pharmacy has been a mainstay of the parade. We have never been better looked after and I have great pleasure in opening the newly refurbished shop.”

Mayor Ray Dutton, who was present for the official reopening was delighted with the new look pharmacy.

“Attending events such as these are what give me the most satisfaction as the Mayor, where we see local industry investing into communities and on behalf of the council and residents of Rochdale I’d like to thank the owners, Aneet and Maneet Kapoor of KPS Pharmacy for their investment into the local community.”

The brothers spoke of the importance of keeping the connection with the local community.

“Where the redesign reflects changes in the way community pharmacists can help people, providing a far broader range of healthcare and advice than ever before, it would never have been possible without the support we’ve received from the local community over the last 18 years.”

The new pharmacy layout takes pharmacy staff out from behind a counter at the back, and brings them closer to their patients and customers. It also features a consultation room and a separate room for the assembly of dosette boxes for those patients in need of extra support with their medication and the provision of supplies to care homes.

As a regular customer, Councillor Lynne Brosnan reiterated the gratitude shown by the Mayor to the owners for investment into the local community and congratulated all for their achievement.

Oldham Road Pharmacy has embraced change throughout its 100-year history. It was among the first in the North West to offer NHS flu vaccinations as part of a pilot in 2008 and offers a broad range of NHS services including minor ailments, the morning-after pill, inhaler checks and medicines use reviews.

Simon Danczuk MP spoke of the importance of local community pharmacies, he said: “Community pharmacies can alleviate pressures on the wider NHS services including GPs, urgent care centres and A&E.”

Its new travel clinic offers expert advice and vaccinations to anyone travelling overseas and is believed to be the only pharmacy-based travel vaccination clinic in Rochdale.

Salman Saeed, Pharmacist at Oldham Road Pharmacy, said: “We’re delighted with the refurbishment and the response we’ve had from patients and locals. Pharmacy is evolving rapidly and we want every patient and customer to get gold-star treatment. The new layout brings the pharmacist to the patient, reflecting that ethos.

“Our travel clinic is another example of how we respond to our patients’ needs, making it as easy as possible for them to get the fantastic healthcare and advice they deserve.”