Apollo Pharmacy has officially opened its new, expanded premises at Milton Park’s Signal Yard, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of community healthcare provision within one of Oxfordshire’s largest business and innovation hubs.
The independent pharmacy, founded by superintendent pharmacist Abdirahman Hassan, first opened at Milton Park in 2012 and has since grown into a key healthcare provider for the local area.
Now employing seven staff members and operating as part of a four-branch Oxfordshire network, Apollo Pharmacy has relocated from its previous High Street unit into a larger 896 sq ft permanent home designed to support an expanded clinical offer.
Expanded services and clinical capacity
The move enables Apollo Pharmacy to significantly broaden its NHS and private healthcare services, which now include vaccination programmes, travel health support, smoking cessation, weight management services, blood pressure monitoring, and preventative health checks.
The pharmacy also continues to play a central role in primary care delivery through NHS Pharmacy First, offering treatment and advice for common conditions such as sinusitis, sore throats, ear infections, insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.
In addition, the pharmacy provides medicines management support, inhaler technique guidance, and advice aimed at improving long-term treatment outcomes and reducing side effects.
Today, Apollo Pharmacy dispenses more than 10,500 prescription items each month, making it the highest-volume pharmacy serving Didcot and Abingdon.
Dedicated consultation and treatment space
A key feature of the new site is its dedicated consultation and treatment room, one of the largest of its kind in a local community pharmacy setting. The facility has been designed to offer a private clinical environment where patients can access one-to-one consultations, enabling faster, more convenient healthcare without necessarily needing a GP appointment.
This expanded clinical space also supports the delivery of workplace wellbeing initiatives, corporate vaccination programmes and preventative health campaigns in partnership with Milton Park occupiers and neighbouring operators such as Flex Health Club.
A growing wellbeing destination
The relocation forms part of the wider development of Signal Yard, which is evolving into a mixed-use destination combining health, wellbeing, retail and hospitality.
Alongside Apollo Pharmacy, the site is home to operators including Bros Barbers, Damira Dental Studios, Milton Post Office, Flex Health Club and vegan restaurant Planted Plates. Upcoming arrivals include 1885 Burgers, Chor Muang Thai and Tap Social’s Day Release, which will introduce artisan food, drink and hospitality offerings later in the summer.
This curated mix of services reflects a growing trend towards integrated community hubs where everyday essentials and wellbeing services sit side by side, making it easier for people to access care and convenience in one location.
Long-standing community presence
Apollo Pharmacy’s team has built a reputation for continuity of care, with many staff working together for several years and developing strong relationships with patients across Milton Park and the surrounding area.
The pharmacy’s personalised approach remains central to its service model, combining clinical expertise with familiar, trusted relationships that support long-term patient engagement.
Leadership perspective
Speaking on the opening, superintendent pharmacist Abdirahman Hassan said the expansion reflects both the growth of the business and the changing role of community pharmacy.
“When we opened at Milton Park in 2012, many people questioned whether an independent pharmacy could succeed here. Fourteen years later, we’re proud to be the busiest pharmacy by prescription volume across Didcot and Abingdon, dispensing more than 10,500 prescription items every month,” he said.
He added that the new consultation space allows the team to deliver a wider range of clinical and preventative services closer to patients.
“Pharmacies have changed significantly over the last few years. Today, we’re doing much more than dispensing prescriptions. Our new consultation room allows us to provide a wider range of clinical services, preventative healthcare and one-to-one support, helping people access healthcare more quickly and conveniently.”
Milton Park asset manager Clare Fleet also welcomed the expansion, highlighting the importance of integrated healthcare within the wider destination.
“Apollo Pharmacy provides an incredibly important service for people across Milton Park and the surrounding area. Healthcare and wellbeing are a fundamental part of creating a thriving community,” she said.
Strengthening integrated community services
Milton Park continues to position itself as a leading innovation community where employment, wellbeing and lifestyle services are closely integrated. The addition of Apollo Pharmacy’s expanded facility at Signal Yard reinforces that vision, strengthening access to everyday healthcare within a growing mixed-use environment.
With only a small number of units remaining, Milton Park continues to attract independent operators looking to join a destination designed around community, convenience and wellbeing.
