Michael W Phillips

Possibly the smallest chemist in Birmingham, handy because it’s joined onto Kingstanding Circle Surgery and it means I can simply pop next door to get my prescription, or even ask the receptionist to run it through when it’s been signed!

It’s literally a one room operation, you enter the chemist to discover there are no shelves for you to browse and the customer space contains just two chairs and a counter where you give your prescription in and discuss your requirements with the pharmacist.

Behind the counter there is a single shelving rack of goods for purchase, angled so that it can be seen from across the counter and customers have to point to what they want and the member of staff will get it for you. These are mainly body care items as well as some baby bits and over the counter medicines. Prices are on a par with other chemists, and very often Michael W Phillips will work out cheaper as they have a special shelf where things cost only £1.

After giving my prescription in I have never had to wait more than five minutes for it to be filled, even when the shop is particularly busy (mind you, the chemist is so small that just four people in the customer area constitutes busy!). The staff are all lovely, very personable and happy to offer advice about anything in your prescription. Most of the time the assistant will advise but if there is a query which needs more in depth advice she will get the pharmacist, who is also very nice and doesn’t make me feel like I am being a nuisance as happens in the Boots over the road.

I’ve only ever had an item out of stock from my prescription once, it was delivered the very next day through and I was quickly informed that it was there.