Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois, took time on a recent Friday afternoon to visit the Hawkwell Pharmacy (C Percy Ltd) on Main Road, Hawkwell, and to meet with the Pharmacist there, Mr Sajjad Manji. Mr Manji explained to Mark some of the concerns behind the campaign by pharmacists regarding forthcoming changes to the way they do their business.
The Hawkwell Pharmacy has been serving local residents in and around the Hockley/Hawkwell area for many years. Mr Manji took it over several years ago and revamped the pharmacy including creating a private consultation room in which people can, if necessary, discuss their ailments in private with him as the pharmacist.
For his part, Mr Manji explained to the MP some of his concerns about changes to NHS funding of pharmacies and Mark undertook to look into this matter and to speak to the Minister responsible, Alistair Burt MP, following his return to Westminster. Commenting on the visit, Mark Francois said:
“Pharmacies play a vital role in the National Health Service, by providing day to day advice on minor ailments and in many cases being able to help people without the need for them to visit their GP. I am a firm supporter of what pharmacists do in their local communities and it was useful to be able to get an update on the latest developments in the pharmacy profession from Mr Manji, who made me very welcome during my visit.”