Apollo Pharmacy expands at Signal Yard

Apollo Pharmacy has officially opened the doors to its new home at Signal Yard, Milton Park, to bring expanded healthcare services, a dedicated consultation and treatment room and new preventative health and wellbeing services to the Park’s growing social and retail destination.

Apollo Pharmacy first opened at Milton Park in February 2012 and today employs seven people. Founded by superintendent pharmacist Abdirahman (Abdi) Hassan, it was the first pharmacy in his independently owned Oxfordshire network, which has since grown to four locations across the county.

Having relocated from 11 High Street into a larger permanent home at Signal Yard which totals 896 sq ft/83 sq m, the independent pharmacy is now better positioned to support occupiers, visitors and the wider local community with an expanded range of NHS and private healthcare services.

Highest-volume pharmacy

Today, Apollo Pharmacy dispenses more than 10,500 prescription items every month, making it the highest-volume pharmacy across Didcot and Abingdon.

Alongside prescription dispensing and medicines management, Apollo Pharmacy offers vaccination services, support for minor illnesses, healthy living advice and guidance to help patients better understand and manage their medication, including inhaler use, reducing side effects and improving long-term treatment compliance.

NHS Pharmacy First

The pharmacy also provides safe disposal of unwanted or out-of-date medicines, emergency hormonal contraception and access to the NHS Pharmacy First service, which offers treatment and advice for seven common health conditions, including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

Travel vaccinations

Reflecting the changing role of community pharmacy, Apollo Pharmacy’s services now extend far beyond traditional prescription dispensing. Alongside NHS services, the team provides travel vaccinations, anti-malarial medication, weight management programmes, smoking cessation support, blood pressure monitoring, preventative health checks and treatment for a range of common infections and minor ailments.

Large consultation room

A key feature of the new pharmacy is its dedicated  consultation and treatment room, one of the largest facilities within a community pharmacy in the local area. Designed to provide a private and comfortable clinical environment, it enables the team to deliver a broader range of clinical services and one-to-one consultations, helping patients access healthcare more quickly and conveniently without needing to visit their GP.

The expanded facility also enables Apollo Pharmacy to work more closely with Milton Park occupiers and neighbouring wellbeing operators, including Flex Health Club and its specialist practitioners, through workplace wellbeing initiatives, corporate vaccination programmes, health screening and preventative healthcare campaigns.

Trusted team of healthcare professionals

Signal Yard’s mix of complementary operators, including the Post Office, Damira Dental Studios, Bros Barbers and Flex Health Club, is creating a destination where health, wellbeing and everyday convenience sit alongside independent food and drink businesses, helping foster a stronger sense of community for people working at, visiting and living around Milton Park.

Apollo Pharmacy has become a trusted part of life at Milton Park. The team of seven healthcare professionals, many of whom have worked together for several years and continue to develop their clinical qualifications and expertise, provide continuity and commitment to personalised care and have helped Apollo Pharmacy build long-standing relationships with patients across Milton Park and the wider local community.

Busiest pharmacy by prescription volume

Abdirahman (Abdi) Hassan, superintendent pharmacist at Apollo Pharmacy, said: “When we opened at Milton Park in 2012, many people questioned whether an independent pharmacy could succeed here. Fourteen years later, we’re proud to be the busiest pharmacy by prescription volume across Didcot and Abingdon, dispensing more than 10,500 prescription items every month.

“Pharmacies have changed significantly over the last few years. Today, we’re doing much more than dispensing prescriptions. Our new consultation room allows us to provide a wider range of clinical services, preventative healthcare and one-to-one support, helping people access healthcare more quickly and conveniently.

“We’re incredibly proud of the trust our patients place in us. Many of the people who visit us have known our team for years and value seeing familiar faces who understand their healthcare needs. That personal approach is something we’ve worked hard to build and something we’ll never lose as we continue to grow.

“Signal Yard brings together health, wellbeing, retail and hospitality in a way that genuinely benefits the community. We’re excited to continue growing alongside Milton Park and supporting the health and wellbeing of the people who work, visit and live around the Park.”

Changing role of community healthcare

Clare Fleet, asset manager of Milton Park at Federated Hermes Real Estate, said: “Apollo Pharmacy provides an incredibly important service for people across Milton Park and the surrounding area, so we’re delighted to see them officially open their new home at Signal Yard.

“Healthcare and wellbeing are a fundamental part of creating a thriving community. Apollo Pharmacy’s expanded offer complements the wider mix of services now available at Signal Yard, ensuring people can access everyday essentials, health support and wellbeing services all in one place.

“It’s fantastic to see a long-standing independent business continue to grow at Milton Park. Apollo Pharmacy’s success reflects both the changing role of community healthcare and the value of creating destinations where people can easily access the services they need.”

New social and retail destination

Signal Yard is Milton Park’s new social and retail destination, bringing together independent operators, food and drink venues, amenities and community-focused spaces within the UK’s largest single ownership innovation community.

Apollo Pharmacy joins other businesses now open at Signal Yard including Bros Barbers, Damira Dental Studios, Flex Health Club, Milton Post Office and vegan restaurant Planted Plates.

Coming soon will be 1885 Burgers, Chor Muang Thai and Tap Social’s Day Release, which will serve artisan coffee, sourdough, pastries, pizza and beer later this summer. With strong demand from independent operators, only a small number of units remain. Milton Park is actively exploring opportunities including the potential for a hairdresser, beautician and farm shop-style offer.

Apollo Pharmacy’s opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm (closing between 1.15pm and 2.15pm) and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.