Nottingham-based Fraser Brown Solicitors has helped a local pharmacist to purchase the share capital of a rural pharmacy in Leicestershire, ensuring the service remains open and accessible to villagers.

Roger Kirkbride worked for Boots and then as a consultant helping pharmaceutical chains to develop new services, before he recognised the potential of Wymeswold pharmacy and decided to take some of his own advice and extend its service offering.

The Wolds village pharmacy is unusual in that it is considered to be an essential service for the area and as such is covered by an Essential Small Pharmacy Local Pharmaceutical Services contract. This means it is able to offer more to the local population including services that are tailored to their needs such as blood pressure monitoring and support for people with long term conditions.

Robin Wright, Partner in Corporate and Commercial Law at Fraser Brown, advised on the purchase. He said, "This was an interesting transaction for us to work on, especially because of the nature of the purchase. We do a lot of work in more rural communities and recognise the value of services such as these. We were pleased to be approached by Roger and be able to help secure the pharmacy's future." 

Roger added, "I had worked as a locum in the Wymeswold pharmacy in the past so I knew how important it was to the local area. It is quite unusual to have a pharmacy without a doctor's surgery nearby and this emphasises its value to the community.

"It was this that appealed to me as I realised there was real potential to grow the pharmacy and make it somewhere that people could visit for a whole range of health advice. I contacted Fraser Brown following a recommendation from a colleague and Robin and his team have been professional and efficient throughout."