Conor Steele, head of services for Jardines Pharmacy, shares how Cegedim Rx platforms –
Pharmacy Services and Intelligence Hub – haven’t just provided him with the total oversight
of all 48 branches he’s been longing for, they’ve also helped increase clinical service delivery
by 50%.
Jardines Pharmacy is a family-run group of 48 pharmacies spread across Milton Keynes and
Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire.
In recent years it embarked on a significant expansion by acquiring 26 new branches. For
Conor, head of branch services, the need to have full oversight of clinical service delivery in
each branch had never been more important.
“Pharmacies do an incredible amount of work, but historically we’ve been very poor at
capturing and seeing it clearly,” he says. “If you don’t have accurate, live data, you’re
always reacting too late and there’s a far higher chance you miss care and income
opportunities.”
Despite the importance of having this real-time data-based oversight, Conor admits it’s
something they’ve previously struggled to achieve before turning to Cegedim Rx for help.
Computer says no
“The biggest frustration was the data,” Conor explains. “Reports from alternative systems
could take days to run, especially during flu season. Often the numbers they spat out didn’t
make sense. And it was mostly retrospective data so it became impossible to see what was
happening in branch there and then.”
That lack of intelligence made it difficult for Conor to track clinical service delivery across the
group, and he grew concerned that opportunities to provide proactive support may be being
missed.
“With services like Pharmacy First there’s a huge clinical and financial impact each month. If
you can’t see clearly what’s happening or quickly identify which patients are overdue or
eligible for a service, you risk missing the chance to provide them with care and gain the
income that comes with.”
But that was until Jardines Pharmacy switched to Cegedim Rx platforms, Intelligence Hub
and Pharmacy Services.
“The live data aspect is a godsend”, says Conor. “There’s no waiting, or frustration. The
data is accessible whenever we need it.”
Real-time gains
For Conor the time he’s been able to save has been invaluable. “I’ve easily gained four
hours a week – probably more. But more importantly, I now have total confidence that the
time I spend analysing the data collected is adding value.”
He adds, “Pharmacies are busy places. Our branch teams are often so focused on providing
reactive care and treating the patients that are in front of them. But now with this data and
system support we can identify opportunities where proactive care can be offered too.
“The dashboards couldn’t be easier to use and understand. Branch staff can immediately see
how many new referrals they have, what’s overdue and what needs actioning. It helps them
take ownership and pushes services forward in each branch.”
Less winter pressure
“Our previous system used to crash in the first few days of flu season. Every year,” admits
Conor. However, since moving to the Pharmacy Services system, he says that’s no longer an
issue.
“For flu and Covid vaccinations especially, there’s no confusion or down time.
“There are fewer buttons to press and a much quicker consultation. It saves time in branch,
especially when things are busy. Even fixing entries is simple – staff can quickly find and
correct them.”
Proof that past IT issues were slowing them down was confirmed when the team managed
to triple the number of flu vaccinations delivered in 2025.
“It’s not all down to the Pharmacy Services platform – of course the branch teams worked
really hard” Conor says. “But having the right system in place made it possible. Pharmacy
Services helps them plan better and work more effectively.”
Service expansion
Armed with this fresh insight confidence, Conor and the team have been able to expand
services.
“We started offering contraception services in April 2025. We contacted patients already
using contraception and around 50–60% opted to have everything managed by us. Now we
look after all their contraception needs.”
The uptake of emergency contraception has been just as strong, with around 100 services
delivered across the group in the first week it was launched.
Overall, clinical services delivery has increased by 50% across Jardines Pharmacy.
“The combination of Intelligence Hub and Pharmacy Services provide us with eyes and ears
across the group. It means we can see where pressure points are and where there are
opportunities to grow clinical delivery. It’s not about working harder. We can now work
smarter.”
In it together
As Jardines Pharmacy continue to grow, Conor is confident that Cegedim Rx systems will
evolve to meet their needs.
“They’re really open to feedback and actioning it. That just doesn’t happen elsewhere.
“Pharmacies are doing amazing work. With the right insight, systems and experts powering
them, they can do even more.”
To find out how Cegedim Rx can help you deliver, track and grow clinical services with confidence, get in touch with the team to arrange a demo here.