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Monday 8:30am - 6pm Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm Thursday 8:30am - 6pm Friday 8:30am - 6pm Saturday 8:30am - 4pm

Allisons Chemist

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Allisons Chemist

Your local pharmacy The pharmacy has been trading under its current name since the turn of the 20th century.

JWW Allison & Sons is a long-standing independent pharmacy that has been in its premises on Cockermouths Main Street for over 200 years, widely known as Allisons or Allisons Chemist. The pharmacy has had the same owner, Mrs Vera Lowrey for over 30 years. The shop is very lucky to have many loyal staff, who between them have served JWW Allison & Sons for almost 200 years!!

22/03/2026

More than happy to be able to relieve the pressure on our local surgeries. Please remember that these conditions have criteria which control who can receive treatment and we must stick to that criteria. When we are busy, we may well ask you to call back as our pharmacists may be with other patients or carrying out other time sensitive tasks.

20/03/2026

Good evening,

It’s that time of year again already, when we start to think about Spring COVID boosters. Vaccines have been all over the news the last week with the tragic Meningitis cases in Kent so we’ve naturally had more interest in COVID too.

Spring boosters are for those aged 75 years and over or those who are immunosuppressed. Basically, the same people who qualified for an NHS COVID jab last autumn.

The service is due to start on Monday 13th April and we will be starting our clinics either on that day or on the Tuesday. We will put appointments on the national booking system as soon as that is allowed and will notify you on here. If there is enough vaccine, we will offer walk in jabs to eligible patients.

We have a lot going on in the pharmacy as you all know, so we need this spring program to be a swift one. We will be in the Globe for two to three weeks maximum so advise those who want a jab, to get one sooner rather than later as it’s unlikely that we will be doing much after that time.

Have a nice weekend

17/03/2026

Unfortunately we can’t get Meningitis B vaccine at present. This is obviously down to the sudden surge in demand. We will keep on trying until it comes back into stock.

11/03/2026

Good morning,

Whilst our changes continue, we are coming across items taking up space which we really need.

First up is a pair of Ikea Tobias chairs in pink. They’re not in quite as wonderful condition as in the poster as they’ve been well used and have scratches on them, but I’m sure that they’d be great for someone.

The first person who can take them this week (preferably today) can have them.

As we come across other items, we will put them on here. Most will be free but some we may ask for a charity donation.

Thanks

08/03/2026

Good morning,

We are 10 days into our new system and I’m starting to see things progressing as I hoped they would. There’s still a way to go as this is a huge change in both technology and procedure. We also seem to be having issues with our scanners which is nothing to do with how we’re using them.

Not wanting to feel left out, our shop phones have decided to join the party and lose connection for part of the day. We have no idea of when this is happening, apart from the phone going quiet for once. I then have to climb into a cupboard to reset the phones, which is fun. We are looking into why this is happening. The last time I almost took a hammer to it, only to find that something had been done with our line at the exchange box!

Have a nice rest of your weekend.

01/03/2026

Good morning,

We’ve had an interesting week that’s for sure. We started with our new Patient Medication Record (PMR) system on Wednesday and needless to say it’s been a challenge.

There’s a lot more technology involved and a complete change to the way we process prescriptions, so this will take time for us to get on top of. But I’ve seen the system in pharmacies once it’s established and it’s transformative for staff and patients.

Our staff have done amazingly well. They’re obviously slower and less confident and tasks which were previously straightforward are more tricky at present. But this won’t take long to change.

This is where patients come in. Everyone bar a few people have been lovely, but it’s important to know that the training we received on Wednesday doesn’t instantly turn us into experts. It’s like using an iPhone for 15 years and someone handing you a Samsung and saying “send a text, read an email, edit a photo and update your facebook status” all whilst 15 people stare at you! But thanks to all who’ve understood this and given us that bit more time.

The new tills and card machines are introduced tomorrow!! 😬

26/02/2026

So we survived yesterday!!

There’s a long way to go and lots of work to do. About to start tackling the new tills and cars machines today!! 😬

A very kind patient bought us these very appropriately named chocolates yesterday. I can assure you that there was no rest or play going on in here!!

I think I might have made a mistake. The new computer is called Lindt Red not Titan 😉

25/02/2026

Good morning,

Today we got live with our brand new Patient Medication Record (PMR) system in the pharmacy.

Alongside the staff, the PMR is the heart of any pharmacy and what we use from before we open our doors, often until well after we close them. It contains nearly all of the information we need hundreds of times a day and gives us our ultimate power, which is obviously sticking labels on boxes 😂.

We have had the previous system since returning to our premises in 2010 after the first of Cockermouth’s most recent floods. So this change is obviously going to be huge for us.

The new system is called Titan and I sincerely hope that it’s going to provide strength and intellect rather than any reminders of its similarity to the name of the infamous ship and nauseating film!

Joking aside, I’m really optimistic about what the changes we are making will mean for our productivity, safety and sanity levels but it’s going to take time. The company have sent a trainer over to us today to support us on our first day and I’ve told her repeatedly how nice our patients are, so please don’t prove me wrong.

I’ve decided to delay the introduction of our new till software and card machines for a day or two. I’m already waiting for three separate deliveries by Evri, and there’s only so much a person can take!

So if you don’t have to collect your prescription today, please don’t! A steady start would be much appreciated. And if you do need a prescription that lands with us today, please remember that it’s likely to take longer for us to do as everything is new.

Thanks

19/02/2026

You probably feel like I’ve been banging on about this forever now, but the moment is nearly here. I wish it wasn’t! 😂

Even before the demise of Mickey the robot, it was becoming clear to us that some things needed to change in order for us to move forward. Prescription numbers have risen, our service offering has multiplied and it felt like the space we were doing it all from had gotten smaller.

We were at our realistic limit for staff numbers given the space constraints and the last thing we’d want to do is move premises, as where we are is a huge part of who we are.

So losing Mickey led to a series of events where we significantly changed upstairs with the idea that this is where the main dispensary would be. This is not a decision many pharmacies make, but in all honesty it was the only viable option we had with what I said above in mind. Over time this will hopefully also allow us to make the necessary changes downstairs to better meet our service provision expectations in the new pharmacy landscape.

Whilst we adapt to these changes, although you might not see much change there will be lots that our staff have to take onboard and master. Routine tasks will take longer than usual and things just won’t work sometimes. But I have complete confidence in them and that these changes will benefit everyone once we are all used to them.

Please be patient over the next few weeks as change is tricky and at times scary. Having a tricky or scary patient facing you only makes matters worse 😂

14/02/2026

**REPETITIVE POST ALERT**

If you have prescriptions that have been ready with us for a little while, we’d really appreciate it if you could come along and collect them when you’re able.

Our building work upstairs is completed and we will be moving the majority of our dispensing up there by the end of the month. Our new pharmacy system goes live on the 25th February so this is where collecting your medication will really help us.

Judging by the image, we’ve also managed to relocate the shop, which is quite impressive!

From March onwards we won’t be able to search for prescriptions dispensed on the current system. So we will basically have to just go to the shelf and see if there’s something there (easier said than done), all whilst trying to integrate prescriptions dispensed on the new system.

Having as many older completed prescriptions off the premises as possible will really help us to focus on the work we have to do going forward, rather than struggling to locate work we’ve already done.

Thank you, as always, for your understanding and continued support. We really appreciate it 😊

08/02/2026

🎉 NEW PRIVATE SERVICES COMING IN 2026!

We’re excited to share a sneak peek of some of the new health services we’ll be introducing this year — designed to offer you even more convenient, accessible support right here at the pharmacy. We’d planned to have all of this and more in place by now, but circumstances (which you may be aware of) have dictated that other more pressing matters became more of a priority. So rather than get to July and not got going yet, we’ll try a soft launch and see how it goes. So although the poster says “COMING SOON” they have already arrived. At present it’s only me that runs these clinics so appointments will be available on weekdays as long as I’m in.

✨ Private services launching in 2026:
✔️ Period delay
✔️ Hair loss support
✔️ Vitamin B12 services
✔️ Jet lag treatment
✔️ Ear infection (otitis externa) service for adults*

We’re committed to expanding our private clinics so you can get fast, professional help when you need it — without the wait.

📍 Other services to follow (I must be mad)

It is important to realise that these are private services which aren’t available on the NHS from pharmacies. We’ve had previous requests for these services, which prompted our decision to offer them. More information and prices can be found on our travel clinic website (link in comments)

Thanks

*Please note that we can’t treat patients with perforated ear drums, grommets or those with longstanding ear problems.

06/02/2026

.**REPETITIVE POST ALERT**

If you have prescriptions that have been ready with us for a little while, we’d really appreciate it if you could come along and collect them when you’re able.

Our building work upstairs is nearing its completion and we will be moving the majority of our dispensing up there by the end of the month. We will be phasing in our new pharmacy and shop systems over this time so this is where collecting your medication will really help us.

From March onwards we won’t be able to search for prescriptions dispensed on the current system. So we will basically have to just go to the shelf and see if there’s something there (easier said than done), all whilst trying to integrate prescriptions dispensed on the new system.

Having as many older completed prescriptions off the premises as possible will really help us to focus on the work we have to do going forward, rather than struggling to locate work we’ve already done.

👉 If you’ve only just ordered your prescription, this message isn’t aimed at you – it may not even be ready for collection yet.

Thank you, as always, for your understanding and continued support. We really appreciate it 😊

Address

31 Main Street
Cockermouth
CA139

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 6pm
Thursday	8:30am - 6pm
Friday	8:30am - 6pm
Saturday	8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441900822292

Website

http://allisonschemist.com/

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