The Wellway Pharmacy has been judged Pharmacy Services Provider of the Year by Unichem.

It earned the award in a competition which was open to independent chemists throughout the country.

The prize was presented at a glittering ceremony at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

The pharmacy, attached to the Wellway Medical Centre, was established in July 2007. It employs two pharmacists and six other staff.

Its Superintendent, Nadeem Shah, said: "We are delighted to have won this award, especially such a short time after being set up.

"The award acknowledges achievements in pharmacy services development,
innovation, simplicity and entrepreneurship, all criteria which the judges felt we had achieved to the maximum of our potential, above and beyond other independent pharmacies throughout the country.

"It is a great honour for our team to have their efforts recognised in this way."

Staff at the pharmacy, which is open from early in the morning until late in the evening seven days a week, have faced a number of unusual tests in the short time the business has been open.

Earlier this year they helped an expectant mother whose baby was delivered on the floor of the pharmacy, and they provided emergency help for people who found themselves without medication when they were evacuated from their homes to a rest centre during the September floods.