Pharmacies
Care Pharmacy
RETAIL UNIT NO.1, 37/39 KINGSLAND RD, WEST MERSEA, Colchester CO5 8RA
Overview
Care Pharmacy is a community pharmacy located in West Mersea, Colchester, serving the local area from its retail unit on Kingsland Road. As a neighbourhood pharmacy, it provides essential healthcare services and medicines to residents of West Mersea and surrounding communities. The pharmacy operates as part of the wider UK pharmacy network, offering prescription dispensing, over-the-counter medications, and advice on minor health concerns.
The pharmacy team delivers professional pharmaceutical services including medicine management, health advice, and support for common ailments. Like most community pharmacies, Care Pharmacy acts as an accessible first point of contact for healthcare, helping patients manage their wellbeing without always needing to visit their GP. The location on Kingsland Road makes it convenient for local residents to access pharmaceutical services alongside other retail facilities in the town centre.
Care Pharmacy is committed to providing quality healthcare services to West Mersea's community, supporting local health provision and contributing to the area's primary healthcare infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at Care Pharmacy in Colchester vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 01206 381673 for current opening times. Many pharmacies open early (8am) and close late (6:30pm or later). Check the NHS website for verified opening hours.
Some medicines require a prescription from your GP or hospital doctor, while many others are available over the counter without a prescription. The pharmacist at Care Pharmacy can advise you on which medicines are available without a prescription and can recommend suitable treatments for common conditions such as coughs, colds, headaches, hay fever, and minor infections.
Yes, Care Pharmacy offers free NHS flu vaccinations each autumn for eligible patients including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with long-term conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart disease), carers, and frontline health and social care workers. No appointment is needed at many pharmacies — walk in and ask. The pharmacist can check your eligibility on the spot.
Yes, you can collect a prescription on behalf of someone else from Care Pharmacy. You will need to know the patient's name and date of birth, and you may be asked to sign for the collection. For controlled drugs, additional identification requirements may apply. If you regularly collect for someone, ask Care Pharmacy about setting up a nominated representative.
Care Pharmacy aims to be accessible to all customers. Contact 01206 381673 to confirm step-free access, accessible counter heights, and any other adjustments you may need. Under the Equality Act, pharmacies must make reasonable adjustments for disabled customers. A private consultation room is available for confidential discussions.
If Care Pharmacy is closed, check the rota for the nearest late-night or duty pharmacy — pharmacies take turns providing out-of-hours cover on evenings, Sundays, and bank holidays. You can find the nearest open pharmacy on the NHS website or by calling NHS 111. In a medical emergency, call 999.
Care Pharmacy can provide travel health advice and some travel vaccinations. Common travel vaccines available at pharmacies include hepatitis A, typhoid, and cholera. Other vaccinations such as yellow fever require a specialist travel clinic. Book a travel health consultation at least 6-8 weeks before your trip by calling 01206 381673. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.
Yes, Care Pharmacy can help you quit smoking with free NHS support including advice from the pharmacist, nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers), a structured stop smoking programme with regular check-ins, and access to prescription-only stop smoking medications via your GP. Evidence shows you are up to 3 times more likely to quit with professional support compared to going it alone.
Yes, Care Pharmacy offers Medicine Use Reviews (MURs) and the New Medicine Service (NMS) to help you get the most from your medicines. These free NHS consultations help you understand what your medicines are for, how to take them correctly, identify side effects, and resolve any problems. Ask the pharmacist if you take multiple medications or have recently started a new medicine.
Yes, pharmacists at Care Pharmacy can now prescribe for certain common conditions under the NHS Pharmacy First service. Conditions covered include sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. This means you can get treatment without seeing a GP. The pharmacist can also supply emergency contraception and some other medicines under Patient Group Directions.
You may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you are aged 60 or over, under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, have certain medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, etc.), receiving certain benefits (Universal Credit with no earnings, Income Support, etc.), a war pensioner, or hold an HC2 certificate. If you pay for prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) can save money — currently about £30 for 3 months or £108 for 12 months, covering unlimited prescriptions.
Yes, you can return unwanted, expired, or unused medicines to Care Pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not flush medicines down the toilet or throw them in household waste as they can harm the environment. Simply bring them to the pharmacy and hand them to a member of staff. This includes tablets, liquids, creams, inhalers, and needles/sharps (in a sharps bin).
Care Pharmacy may offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as part of the NHS vaccination programme. Eligibility depends on current NHS guidance. Check the NHS website or call 01206 381673 to find out if COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available at this pharmacy and whether you are eligible.
Yes, Care Pharmacy has a private consultation room where you can speak to the pharmacist confidentially about your health, medicines, or any sensitive issues. All NHS pharmacy services including Pharmacy First consultations, medicine reviews, and vaccination appointments take place in the private room. Ask at the counter if you would like a private consultation.