One of the directors of a company that owns Swindon’s Home Ground Pharmacy has responded to criticism overcharging customers for delivery.

The Adver reported on Wednesday, November 23, that the pharmacy had started to charge customers an annual rate for delivery from December onwards. (LINK)

Jawn Jiang, 27, is one of WYL Enterprises Ltd’s directors and wished to explain why the change to delivery cost has been put in place.

“Other big pharmacies do charge for delivery, and we have tried to undercut them on price,” he said.

“About 30 per cent of everything we send out regarding medicine, we make a loss on.”

The pharmacy was taken over by the group on Monday, October 17.

“I understand that there are people who are genuinely vulnerable and need a delivery service, but we need something to make sure it breaks even,” said Mr Jiang.

“At the moment a driver and the maintenance of a van costs around £62,000 a year.”

Alongside the new delivery costs, residents have also complained that they had not been directly told this important new by the pharmacy, with several customers left in the dark on the issue.

“We were not allowed to give out any information to any patients as we did not own the company until recently,” explained Mr Jiang

“We have now given everyone a personalised letter in their latest deliveries.”

Swindon Advertiser: Meet the team: The staff line up outside Home Ground Pharmacy following the recent takeover.Meet the team: The staff line up outside Home Ground Pharmacy following the recent takeover. (Image: Home Ground Pharmacy)

This is now very much the policy of the pharmacy under its new management and Mr Jiang was quick to offer advice to those who could not continue with the changes.

“If people are really struggling with affording the delivery service, there are other internet providers that do offer free deliveries,” he said.

WYL Enterprises Ltd is an independent family-run business that owns seven pharmacies across the South of England, but Home Ground Pharmacy is its only Swindon-based branch.

“We understand that not everyone is happy with the changes but we have to ensure that there is still a pharmacy here,” said Mr Jiang.

“I have responsibilities like staff’s wages to pay and the care of thousands of patients, so I have to let a few individuals down.”

Home Ground Pharmacy has continued to receive support despite the controversial changes in recent weeks.

“I would like to say thank you to those people who are understanding and supporting us because it is not easy being an independent,” said Mr Jiang.

“Bigger pharmacies are selling up, so I appreciate everyone’s effort in supporting their local pharmacy.”