News about Malcolm Hill

Tim Gibbs' (pictured left) marathon working hours are typical of those who run our independent community pharmacies. At 8.30 a.m., he opens his shop in Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and works until 6 p.m. He supplies medications to housebound customers, grabs dinner, orders drugs from wholesalers, and completes the company's paperwork in the evenings. Now it's midnight. This has been the case for six days in a week. I'm doing 100-hour weeks.' It's not profitable,' he tells Good Health. 'My wife's birthday at the beginning of June was the last day I missed.' There is no time for relaxation or pleasure. 'Life is hell.' Tim isn't a money-driven hobbyist. He's just trying to keep his company alive in the face of an escalating NHS funding crisis that threatens the survival of England's 6,600 family-run independent pharmacies.