Day Lewis Pharmacy Didcot - Didcot

Jane T.

This has been a good pharmacy, and we have found the staff very helpful. At the moment, however, it is taking them about a week to dispense items from prescriptions. When one has a medication used frequently at some times and infrequently at others, one can get caught out ! Communication by telephone is often difficult, which does not help. Pharmacists are under pressure and one does sympathize, but be aware that you need to get repeat prescriptions to your GP early.

Ray S.

Edited 27/11/24: Prescribed two items, only one in stock and was told that the other would be ordered and available the following day. Went back to be told they had it, but then they realised that it was for someone else. Was told I'd be texted when available to collect and provided my mobile. One week later, still no text. Turns out it was marked as "collected" and then I was told I should have paid for it a week ago! Several years of bad experiences at this pharmacy means I have now changed to a different nominated pharmacy as I have no confidence this one will improve.

Stefan B.

Hi everyone, please do your best to avoid this place as much as you can, It is not worth your time and money, and you will be disappointed in the end, I checked the reviews and I did not want to visit them but unfortunately we did (I am a local reviewer myself with over 1.7 million views on google). Please read until the end to see for yourself, I will honestly give a -5* review but that is not possible.

Our terrible experience with them started when our GP asked my wife to carry out a routine check, we had never done this in our lives and were new to it, my wife collected the test kit from them on the 9th of Sept, and she was only provided with the instructions in the kit no other info, the pharmacy had my wife's details directly from the GP via the NHS app, we completed the test kit 2 days later and sent it lab next day delivery.

This is when the story becomes interesting, the test kit was received in the lab on the 12th of Sept (checked via royal mail), we patiently waited 1 week and I decided to check if our GP received anything, but their answer was NO no result, then I decided to go to the pharmacy to ask for more info, the first person there told us it takes 3 weeks for the result to come back, they have experience about this. We accepted this and waited 3 more weeks.

I was worried about my wife's test at this stage and decided to check who was in charge of the lab and get in touch with them directly, the lab replied promptly the next morning telling us they had sent the result to the PHARMACY already, but because the pharmacy did not specify our GP even though the test kit WAS PROVIDED BY OUR GP through the NHS APP they never sent it to our GP.

Hearing of this we decided to (16th of Oct more than 1 month later) go back and check with the pharmacy, we spoke to 3 people first person tried to help but asked someone else (it was the person who provided us the test kit initially) she did not know about this and said they are not interested and they don't receive any results directly, I explained it was a mistake and it was sent to them and showed them my communication with the lab, they involved a third person (maybe the manager) who was even more rude and arrogant saying they can't do anything to help and they don't have nothing, they told us to go and speak to the lab, I went outside and called the lab on the phone and they promptly answered and told me in SHOCK that OUR RESULT was sent 1 month before on the 12th of Sept via an official letter to the pharmacy and confirmed the address.

I went back inside and the arrogant and rude person from before, first she was upset why I called the lab and checked everything, and then desperately searched for our letter through a big stack of untouched letters they had lying in a corner.

I did not continue to argue as there was no point, I realized they were useless and could not take care of any customers, I just left after a few minutes and decided to share my experience here.

I contacted the lab directly, and after we provided my wife's ID via email they sent us the result in 2 minutes. All in all, we wasted over 1 month for nothing because our result was checked and sent back the same day 1 month prior.

lack of knowledge, no customer care, even if we made a mistake they refused to get involved or help despite that they provided the test kit in the first place (can't buy one if it's not approved by the GP)

Please stay away from this place !!!

Joanie B.

We were referred to see the Pharmacist after a 111 call for our son. The Pharmacist was behind the counter filling a prescription when we entered the Pharmacy. One of the Assistants came forward to help us initially and went to call the Pharmacist once we’ve given her the details and reason for our visit. The Pharmacist sent the Assistant straight back to us with an instruction to return after 4pm (more than 2 hours later) as she was on her way out for a break. There was no one else waiting to see her and the Pharmacy wasn’t busy. It would’ve taken her 1-2 minutes at most to look at him and see if he needs a GP for advice or if OTC meds will suffice. We completely appreciate that staff are thinly spread and work under a lot of pressure, but standing 5 steps away from a sick child, sending us away, is really just a lack of any sort of compassion and professionalism. Needless to say, we went to a different Pharmacy and the Pharmacist spent 2 minutes with us and gave advice as needed.

Alison V.

Customer service is a real weakness with this pharmacy, no matter how busy or overworked the staff members are there is no excuse for poor treatment of customers. This pharmacy can’t/wont fulfil prescriptions on the day that they are received, using the excuse that they need to order the medication in, however the drugs in question are visibly in stock on the shelves.
I appreciate that most if not all NHS services are stretched but having now moved to a different pharmacy I know that despite this it is still possible to still offer a good service

Lou B.

on the odd occasion that I use this pharmacy the staff seem to give off the impression that customers are an "inconvenience" to them and not interested in providing quality care for them. Today for me was just awful, the worst experience. I will not be using this pharmacy again. Day Lewis pharmacy you need train your staff in customer relations.

Francesco Z.

Background: I have been ill for 6 days with something that in my opinion is a chest infection. Temperature between 38 °C and 38.5 °C every day (temperature taken under armpit with mercury thermometer). Try 111 online: told to contact GP. Contact GP: told to ring 111. Ring 111: referred to this pharmacy. Went in and temperature measurement with "calibrated" infrared thermometer on the forehead shows 36.4 °C. Dismissed. Go back home, measure temperature again with mercury thermomether under armpit... see picture. Please do change calibration service and/or thermometer type. I may have to bother a&e now...

Carly J.

Been using Day Lewis pharmacy for the last 9 months since moving to the area, and they are always brilliant. Staff are really helpful and polite; I have only ever had a good experience in there. Prescriptions are made up really quickly and if items aren’t available they are always ordered immediately. Can’t fault them at all especially as it’s always so busy. Just wanted to leave a positive review as I really appreciate the staffs efforts. We had a pretty terrible chemists in the village where we used to live which makes you appreciate a good one all the more.