Pharmacies
Day Lewis Pharmacy
WALFORD HOUSE, BASINGSTOKE ROAD, SPENCERS WOOD, Reading RG7 1AA
Overview
Day Lewis Pharmacy is a pharmacy located in Spencers Wood, near Reading in Berkshire. As part of the Day Lewis chain, one of the UK's largest independent pharmacy groups, this branch provides comprehensive community pharmacy services to local residents and patients across the surrounding area.
The pharmacy offers a wide range of services including the dispensing of prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and health and wellness products. Staff members provide professional advice on medication use, potential side effects, and general health matters. Many Day Lewis Pharmacy locations also offer additional services such as flu vaccinations, health checks, and consultations with pharmacists on various health concerns.
Located at Walford House on Basingstoke Road, the pharmacy is conveniently positioned to serve the Spencers Wood community and nearby areas. As an established independent pharmacy chain, Day Lewis maintains high standards of professional service and patient care. The pharmacy typically offers extended opening hours to accommodate working customers and provides a friendly, accessible healthcare service for the local population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at Day Lewis Pharmacy in Reading vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 01189 882882 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 Day Lewis 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, Day Lewis 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 Day Lewis 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 Day Lewis Pharmacy about setting up a nominated representative.
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows pharmacists at Day Lewis Pharmacy to assess and treat seven common conditions without a GP appointment: sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated UTIs in women. The pharmacist can supply NHS medicines for these conditions free of charge if you are exempt from prescription charges. This saves you waiting for a GP appointment.
Yes, Day Lewis 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.
Day Lewis Pharmacy may offer a free prescription delivery service for patients who are housebound, elderly, or have difficulty visiting the pharmacy. Contact 01189 882882 to check availability and arrange delivery to your home in the Reading area. Some pharmacies use delivery apps or partner with delivery services for same-day delivery.
Day Lewis Pharmacy aims to be accessible to all customers. Contact 01189 882882 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.
Day Lewis 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 01189 882882 to find out if COVID-19 vaccinations are currently available at this pharmacy and whether you are eligible.
Yes, you can return unwanted, expired, or unused medicines to Day Lewis 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).
Yes, Day Lewis 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.
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, emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) is available from Day Lewis Pharmacy without a prescription. It is most effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex. Levonorgestrel (effective up to 72 hours) is available over the counter. Ulipristal acetate (effective up to 120 hours) may also be available. The pharmacist will have a brief confidential consultation. Emergency contraception is free on the NHS for women of all ages from most pharmacies.
Day Lewis 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 01189 882882. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.