Samit Hathi, B&S Group/Colorama, on take steps to reduce stress... 'Make time for yourself and family when you are busy running your pharmacy business,' said Hathi. ‘Don’t compromise what's important,’ he said. He described the stress that he felt when he was buying his first pharmacy, and how that over time this led him to think differently. He and his family now have agreed a clear timetable to spend time together, and, he says, the business still gets done.

Brij Valla head of membership services, Avicenna, on business service Aviplus…’The new service has been tried and tested. Over 60 people signed up so far.’ The package of back office support includes a staff planning tool, staff training, a business task management diary, retail signposting support and quarterly mystery shopping reports. Avicenna has been learning from the experience of its own pharmacies, added Salim Jetha.

Raj Haria, commercial director, Avicenna on buying… ‘Telephone buying is not very efficient – it’s got to go, and does the tender model give you the best prices? Avicenna’s AviBuyer deal offers a basket of 1,000 products that is similar in price to competitors, he said. The time saved can be used for other things, and avoids issues such as different packaging on products that confuses patients, he suggested.

Salim Jetha, Avicenna, on making a mark... ‘The way to get the public to support us is if we make an impact. We need to demonstrate the value of pharmacy.’

Chris Frost, AAH, on minor ailments in England… ‘It feels like the message has got through’.