A pharmacist who provided Covid vaccines to a remote village in Yorkshire, helping the locals avoid travelling long distances to larger vaccination sites, has bought two pharmacies after securing a bank loan of almost £450,000.

Sachin Tammewar (pictured) secured the loan from Unity Trust Bank which allowed him to buy Steeton and Goxhill pharmacies to add to Central Dales Pharmacy in Hawes.

All three pharmacies, which employ 30 people in total and serve a number of local care homes, will be used to deliver Covid booster jabs later this month in Goxhill, a small hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire.  

“The nearest vaccination centre to Hawes is 15 miles away, or a 40-minute journey, so we were able to make a real difference to local people who would have struggled to travel,” Mr Tammewar said.

“My new pharmacies are in small villages and around 70 per cent of residents are aged over 60. I’m delighted Goxhill has received approval to administer booster jabs.

“Pharmacies are now able to offer a lot more than they did in the past. We can help with a range of ailments, and with GP surgeries under increasing pressure, we provide a vital service for the local community.”