Health Committee Chair Visits Llanidloes Pharmacy – 07/09/2021

On Monday 5th July, Senedd Member for Montgomeryshire Russell George visited Llanidloes Pharmacy in his constituency, to see first hand how their services are changing. He also took the time – on the day of the 73rd anniversary of founding the NHS – to thank pharmacist Dylan Jones and his team for their work during the Covid pandemic.   Newly elected Chair of the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee Russell George said:

“I was absolutely delighted to visit Llanidloes Pharmacy on 5th July, marking the birthday of the NHS. It was a chance to celebrate not only the achievements of community pharmacists as part of the NHS, but also an opportunity to thank the team there for their hard work during the Covid pandemic.

“The visit also allowed me to say well done to the pharmacist, Dylan Jones, who has recently purchased Llanidloes Pharmacy in his own right. He is a great example of an businessman taking control of his own future but also – more importantly – a pioneering and community focused community pharmacist who is leading Wales in delivering a very important independent prescribing service.”

Dylan Jones from Llanidloes Pharmacy said:
“Russell George has been a great supporter of community pharmacy and has now made several visits to Llanidloes Pharmacy to see the way in which we are leading Wales with an independent prescriber service. He sees the value of the changing focus of community pharmacy from dispensing to encompass a wider range of clinical services like the common ailments service and health interventions including our possible involvement in future vaccine campaigns. With a new contract being negotiated between Welsh Government and Community Pharmacy Wales, this is a critical time for small independent pharmacies like mine, and Russell is well placed as the new Chair of the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee to bring his interest and experience to bear as a champion of the potential of community pharmacy.”
Russell Goodway, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy Wales said:
“Russell George has been a long term friend of Community Pharmacy and we warmly congratulate him upon his election as chair of the Health and Social Services Committee in the Senedd. In the last Senedd, Russell held a short debate which highlighted the value of independent prescribing, using Dylan Jones’ ground breaking service in Llanidloes Pharmacy as his case study. That Short Debate made a material difference in increasing the focus on independent prescribing and contributed directly to a gear change in commissioning. We very much look forward to working with Russell on a constructive, enabling agenda for the further development of community pharmacy.”