“At Boots UK, delivering the highest level of customer and patient care is our priority and we take any reports of our pharmacists being put under undue pressure very seriously. We recognise and appreciate that the role of the pharmacist has changed dramatically in recent years and they are fulfilling an even bigger role in delivering frontline community healthcare. We have clear professional standards we adhere to and believe and trust in the professional judgement of our pharmacists.  If we find any issues of undue pressure from managers we always seek to rectify them and our continued focus is on ensuring our pharmacists are supported and equipped in their role to continue delivering the best care to patients and customers.

“The GPhC already conducts routine inspection visits in all our community pharmacies and we work closely with them to ensure that patients receive the best possible care and that pharmacists receive all the support they need. Since November 2013, when the GPhC launched its current inspection model, a total of 1,135 visits have been conducted across Boots pharmacies. Only one of our pharmacies was found to require improvement on measures relating to incentives or targets. In this instance, as with any that are brought to our attention, we took immediate action to address the issues raised.”

Boots UK Spokesperson, 18 April 2016