Having served the community in and around Gloucester Road for 44 (and a half!) years, the owners of Sood Chemists have decided it is time to move their premises into new hands. It is not, however, a complete farewell for Anoop Sood and his wife, Sunita, who have run the Gloucester Road pharmacy, as well as a second branch in the area, since 1980.
The family’s other premises began life on the corner of Nevil Road, before relocating to the current home at the Gloucester Road Medical Centre on Church Road, and this smaller pharmacy will continue under the present ownership.
While the pair will still be involved in the business, both plan to take a step back to concentrate on family and grandchildren. “We have no plans at the moment,” said Anoop, “visiting family in London, maybe taking a holiday. It will take some adjustment”.
Reflecting on what brought him into community pharmacy, Anoop explained that he began working in hospitals when he finished his training, but found it “very enclosed”. He realised he preferred meeting different people face to face, providing that reassurance and building relationships, often across several generations.
“I have served one family where I looked after the mother-in-law, the husband, children and their children – three, even four, generations. Even though some of them have moved to London, they still phone me for advice”.
It is this sense of being the last port of call after primary and secondary care, to work and serve the community, providing reassurance and dispensing advice along with medication, that gives Anoop most satisfaction.
He enjoys seeing people in their twenties coming in with pushchairs and being able to say to them, “I used to serve you when you were in a pushchair!”
Over the last 44 years, Anoop and Sunita have seen relentless changes in the area, but have survived the closing of many independent shops and businesses along Gloucester Road, have weathered the storm of the pandemic (“a step into the unknown”), and risen to the challenges brought by further responsibilities passed onto them from GP referrals, while many other smaller pharmacies have closed.
The Soods’ last day of goodbyes was September 14, before the shop reopened on the following Monday with a new owner and a new name – Gloucester Road Pharmacy. The new owner, Min, is keen that the Soods’ commitment to its customers continues, while Anoop knows it will be satisfying to see his regulars continue to be well looked after. The rest of the pharmacy team will be staying on to provide the continuity and familiarity that is so reassuring. Indeed, as one member of the team stated, “I’ve only been here since March, but I already feel part of the family. Anoop looks after the team, as well as the customers.”
Anoop considered how strange it will feel, being at home, without so many people to talk to. “I will have to go down to the centre and talk to people there, “he said. One suspects he will remain a friendly and familiar sight around the local area, which will delight his many loyal customers.