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Could Scotland’s first drive-thru pharmacy be solution for Westhill’s huge prescription queues?

Andy and Lynne Porter are proposing a new pharmacy in Westhill. Picture by Chris Sumner.
Andy and Lynne Porter are proposing a new pharmacy in Westhill. Picture by Chris Sumner.

Scotland’s first-ever drive-thru pharmacy could be built in Westhill as residents face huge queues outside the existing stores in the Aberdeenshire town.

Andy Porter, 42, and his wife Lynne, 43, have been running Porter Pharmacy since 2006.

They have five stores across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire already but are currently in the consultation phase of opening up their sixth.

Andy and Lynne Porter at the land on Venture Way. Picture by Chris Sumner.

The couple want to build a pharmacy on a patch of land on Venture Way, across from the McDonald’s in Westhill.

They have been planning this new pharmacy for months and hope they will open Scotland’s first-ever drive-thru pharmacy.

A pharmacist will be stationed at a window for customers to drive past, pick up their script and ask questions, without needing to find a parking space or leave their car.

Artist impression showing an aerial view of the proposed plans. Supplied by Andy Porter / Stewart Brown.

Seven days a week, 24-hour access

The store will be open seven days a week, employing around seven members of staff to begin with.

There will be 12 parking spaces outside the shop, and there will be a 24-hour prescription collection kiosk. The kiosk is like an Amazon locker or bank machine, meaning people can access the medication they need even after the pharmacy has closed.

Although there are a few of these 24-hour collection kiosks in Scotland, the concept is still quite new.

Artist impression showing the proposed pharmacy building. Supplied by Andy Porter / Stewart Brown.

The building will have NHS special consulting rooms and a robotic dispensing machine.

They have been planning the new pharmacy for around six months, with the consultation starting on June 20.

Mr Porter said: “I thought that Westhill has grown to the size where it maybe needed another pharmacy, that’s why we applied.

“It’s a 90-day working consultation with the NHS, then it goes to an NHS hearing to decide if they think there is a need for another pharmacy or not.

Andy Porter outside his Braehead Pharmacy, Bridge of Don, in 2009, the first one he opened. Picture by Donald Stewart.

“We are asking local residents to fill in the NHS questionnaire and give their opinion on the proposed new pharmacy.”

Have your say in Westhill pharmacy consultation

Westhill currently has two pharmacies, both run by Lloyds, with one temporarily closed due to staff shortages.

Residents have been experiencing difficulties getting their prescriptions and waiting in long queues since the pharmacy was closed at the beginning of August.

The NHS questionnaire can be completed online and all comments will be anonymous.

Alternatively, people can send their response to Freepost, NHS Grampian and no stamp is required.

The consultation is open until midnight October 26, and will then move on to an NHS hearing.

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