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Boots UK Pilots New In-Store Interpretation Service

06 August 2019
Feature Healthcare

Boots UK is piloting a new innovative, on-demand interpretation service for non-English speaking pharmacy patients to help make healthcare more accessible.

In England and Wales, there are an estimated 726,000* residents who cannot speak English easily and 138,000* unable to speak English at all.  

VOYCE is a patient-centred, easy-to-use app that can be accessed via in-store iPads. With just a few taps, VOYCE connects colleagues and patients with experienced interpreters who can translate over 245 languages. The free service is currently being trialled in five stores across Belfast, Birmingham, Knightsbridge, Leicester, and Southampton**.

Richard Bradley, Pharmacy Director, Boots UK said: “Boots has been at the forefront of health innovation for 170 years. This pilot scheme is a great example of how technology can help us drive better patient outcomes, through a simple, innovative service that will help our pharmacy teams make sure that our patients get the most from their medicines, without language as a barrier.”

The pilot is part of Boots UK’s larger plans to transform its pharmacy experience for patients and customers. Earlier this year, Boots developed the Free Online NHS Repeat Prescription Service, giving patience the convenience of ordering repeat prescriptions from their mobiles, arranging collection from a store or having it delivered to their home for free​​​​​​​.

 

 

*According to the last Census in 2011.

**Belfast Donegal Place, Birmingham High Street, Knightsbridge Brompton Road, Leicester Gallowtree Gate, and Southampton Above Bar Street

 

 

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and around 1,900 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 31 May 2024

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