Bunbury pharmacy goes click and collect

Terry White Pharmacy will soon have a dedicated click and collect service at their South Bunbury site, after a decision made at last week’s Bunbury City Council meeting.

The proposed serviced parking bays will provide for an alternative method of collection of prescriptions, helping reduce the risk of exposure for staff and patients.

Pharmacist owner Craig Clarke said the initiative would be a great benefit to the local community.

“COVID will be around for the next two to three years,” Mr Clarke said.

“We feel this will be great for those people who are vulnerable to infections, the elderly, those with reduced mobility and mothers with children.

“An innovative pharmacy designed for the pandemic which will be with us for the foreseeable future is something the Bunbury community needs.”

Mr Clarke said he envisages the click and collect service will be a lot faster than a drive through.

“Through their phone app, customers will be able to place an order with their scripts, pay on the app and pick up the parcel at the other end,” Mr Clarke said.

“So it runs smoothly, we will have wall-mounted directional signs and a camera inside the pharmacy so we can see when people arrive.

“The drive-through click and collect will also reduce the demand for on-site parking.”

In order for the pharmacy to facilitate a dedicated collection-only pick up, development approval was sought for alterations and additions to the site.

The application was significantly modified to address officer and community concerns and was put to councillors last week.

“Our elderly and immune-deficient are very vulnerable members of our community, we need to protect them and think innovatively of ways to ensure that they remain safe,” Councillor Cheryl Kozisek said.

“This collection facility is innovative in its simplicity, timely, and their planning to keep both our community and staff safe should be commended.”