Oxford pharmacy reopened after unexpected 3-month closure

Allied Pharmacy in Henley Avenue, Iffley, announced its closure to customers on Thursday, February 5, with a sign in the shop door.

At the time, it was not known why the pharmacy had to close or when it would reopen, just that it was shut ‘due to unforeseen circumstances out of our control’ until ‘further notice’ with patient prescriptions sent elsewhere.

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The city pharmacy has now reopened, back to serving customers since April 27.

Medicine at a pharmacy (Image: Julien Behal/PA)

It was closed for building repairs after a structural issue was discovered, as a tree was ‘growing through’ the wall of the shop making it unsafe for the business to continue operating.

Dispenser at the pharmacy Joe, who did not want to share his last name, said they’re now welcoming customers back with normal operating hours and all usual services available.

Allied Pharmacy is open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, closing at 1pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

After the closure was announced, MP for Oxford East Anneliese Dodds (Labour) got in touch with Allied Pharmacy’s head office and publicly shared their response.

Anneliese Dodds (Image: Other)

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The pharmacy team said all prescriptions at the Henley Avenue store were either collected or returned to the NHS’s central electronic prescribing system, meaning patients could download prescriptions and have them dispensed at a pharmacy of their choice with out re-ordering them.

The team said at the time: “We appreciate that closures at short notice can be concerning for patients and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Allied Pharmacies is a chain of more than 200 pharmacies across the UK, with a second branch in Oxford on Ivy Close, Cowley.