PLANS for a new pharmacy business in Wellington have been given a cautious welcome by town councillors.

But patients will not be able to visit the pharmacy if NHS Somerset allows it to open in premises on the Westpark business park, Chelston.

Taunton-based Imperial Chemists Ltd has applied for a ‘distance selling’ licence which means it will only take online orders which will be delivered by courier services.

The company, run by registered pharmacist Dan-Alexandru Florea, was only set up in December of last year.

Mr Florea said patients requiring medication would access a website via a secure log-in procedure and they would then be contacted by staff to assess their medical history before items were dispensed and medication delivered nationwide through a tracked delivery service.

He said: “This service will be delivered without face-to-face contact via the pharmacy website as a communication link as well as telephone post/email/fax/webcam.

“A courier service will provide a third-party delivery if this is required when it would not be practicable to use the in-house delivery service.

“Communication between the pharmacy and patients will be facilitated by phone, fax, email, and webcam.

“If patient counselling is required for any dispensed medication, the pharmacy will have procedures so this can be done via the telephone, videoconferencing, or email before dispatch of medication.

“The premises have been carefully chosen to prevent face to face contact for any person seeking the provision of essential services.

“No person who is seeking essential services under the NHS contract will be allowed entry.”

Mr Florea said he would be the superintendent in charge of the premises with three other staff initially employed and more recruited as the business grew.

The town council was asked by Healthwatch Somerset for its views on the application before a decision was taken by NHS Somerset.

Councillors were concerned about the potential impact on Wellington’s remaining pharmacies, Boots, Superdrug, and jhoots, and feared any loss of customers might undermine business models and lead to closures.

However, they welcomed the prospect of easing long patient queues experienced at the pharmacies since Boots closed its Wellington Medical Centre outlet in February.