Yorkshire Bank prescribes funding for new Doncaster pharmacy

5th June 2012

Five new jobs have been created with the launch of a new medical centre pharmacy in South Yorkshire.

The new posts for pharmacy technicians have been created by Chestnut Pharmacy, which has opened at Carcroft Medical Centre, Doncaster, after gaining backing from Yorkshire Bank's Doncaster Financial Solutions Centre under its Investing for Growth initiative.

Chestnut Pharmacy, which is open six days a week, so that patients are able to get their prescriptions on the same visit, immediately after seeing their GP, is based within the Medical Centre, serving north west Doncaster.

Three of the newly-appointed pharmacy technicians at Chestnut Pharmacy, which anticipates a six-figure turnover in its first-year's trading, are qualified NVQ2 Pharmacy Technicians, and two more are being trained to that level.

Chestnut Pharmacy superintendent pharmacist, Osman Ali, who has founded the pharmacy with the Medical Centre GPs, said: "A greater volume and range of medicines are being prescribed by GPs for a range of ailments. Chestnut Pharmacy is part of a trend of making primary medical care easier for patients who now do not have to wait, or travel, to get their prescriptions.

"Sick people deserve first-rate medical attention, and we can now provide a prescription collection and delivery service for the elderly and house-bound patients.

"Yorkshire Bank has been very helpful, and quick to understand our needs. The funding has enabled us to start the pharmacy with full working capital for stock holding and to train our staff. After we have made this business sustainable, we aim to establish ourselves on other sites."

David Haslehurst, business partner at Yorkshire Bank's Doncaster FSC said: "Primary healthcare is incredibly important, and we are pleased to be backing Osman Ali and his team with a venture that will support healthcare for people in this part of Doncaster."

Yorkshire Bank's Investing for Growth initiative enables businesses to take advantage of loan repayment holidays, interest-only repayments and extended loan and credit terms designed to take advantage of quality growth opportunities. Businesses signing up to the package can re-invest the cash into their operation for expansion, new staff, equipment, machinery and commercial development.