Pharmacies
Markand Pharmacy
122 HENLEY ROAD, CAVERSHAM, Reading RG4 6DH
Overview
Markand Pharmacy is a community pharmacy located on Henley Road in Caversham, Reading. As a typical neighbourhood pharmacy, it serves the local residential population with essential healthcare services and medication provision. The pharmacy dispenses prescription medicines issued by local GPs and NHS services, helping patients access their prescribed treatments conveniently within their community.
Beyond dispensing, Markand Pharmacy likely provides standard pharmacy services including repeat prescription management, health and wellness advice, and support with minor ailments. Many community pharmacies in this area also offer services such as medication reviews, smoking cessation support, and general health consultations with qualified pharmacists.
The pharmacy is conveniently located for residents of Caversham and surrounding areas, operating as part of the wider NHS healthcare network. As a community-based service, it plays an important role in providing accessible healthcare advice and prescription services to local patients, complementing GP surgeries and other medical facilities in the Reading area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Opening hours at Markand Pharmacy in Reading vary — most pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday, with some offering Sunday and bank holiday hours. Contact 01189 472464 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 Markand 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, Markand 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 Markand 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 Markand Pharmacy about setting up a nominated representative.
Markand Pharmacy may offer a free prescription delivery service for patients who are housebound, elderly, or have difficulty visiting the pharmacy. Contact 01189 472464 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.
Yes, Markand 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.
Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows pharmacists at Markand 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, emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) is available from Markand 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.
Yes, pharmacists at Markand 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.
Markand Pharmacy aims to be accessible to all customers. Contact 01189 472464 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 Markand 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.
Yes, Markand 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, Markand 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.
Markand 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 472464. Some travel vaccines carry a charge as they are not available on the NHS.