A Swindon pharmacist has become his own boss after setting up a new venture to replace a closed Boots in Wiltshire.

Gurinder Singh worked as store manager in the Malmesbury High Street branch of the chain when he first qualified as a pharmacist in 2015 and went on to work in the Swindon equivalent for four years.

After seeing the impact that the loss of Lloyds Pharmacy had on the people of Malmesbury and then hearing that the town’s Boots-managed Primary Care Centre was due to close too, he stepped in to ensure that an independent pharmacy could pick up where the big-name brand had left off.

A similar effort to replace a closed Boots is underway in Swindon, though it is expected to take several weeks for the Gorse Hill Pharmacy team’s bid to be considered and approved.

Gurinder got the ball rolling on his plan to start an independent pharmacy six months ago so that he could open it the day after Boots closed.

The Malmesbury Pharmacy welcomed its first customers on Monday.

He said: “I wanted to make sure there was no gap in service and that we could respond to the needs of the community.

"We bought out Boots’ licence rather than have to apply for a new one, retaining some of the old staff and recruiting new employees.

“It’s a positive step to be inside the medical centre, which is a very forward-thinking practice where doctors, pharmacists and dentists can help ensure the patient sees the right clinician at the right time.

"The future for community pharmacies is to have an equal space in primary care and become part of the multi-disciplinary team. Patients are keen to look after themselves around here so it's important they are given the information and tools to do so.

“Government funding has been cut to the wire and services are struggling, so pharmacies are disappearing off our high streets too fast and patients are being left without this invaluable service."

The pharmacy will provide NHS services as well as private ones such as travel vaccinations and earwax removal, stock emergency medication to help nursing homes in the area, and run seasonal programmes focusing on various health issues, along with a wellness service, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.

It's a full-circle moment for Mr Singh as he returns to Malmesbury leading a large team of staff in his own pharmacy.

He added: "Malmesbury is a lovely, beautiful town and the locals made me feel very welcome when I worked there before.

"I want this to be the go-to pharmacy for patients and clinicians alike. The plan is for it to become a health hub not just limited to dispensing prescriptions, and be a trusted voice in the community whatever the need.

"It is important to take the staff on this journey with you, to ensure they are part of the business.

"You spend more time at work than home so we are really keen for us to create a family atmosphere in the workplace.

"You have to allow patients to make choices on what they need, as they will know their local communities even better than us so ask them for feedback and act on it. For example, what is one thing they would like stocked in retail that they never had a say in before.

"Now it is just down to the government to fund the services appropriately. It is essential it backs us to do our job by finding ways to reduce the number of drug shortages, have a simple reimbursement system, and update our infrastructure."