As a growing chain of pharmacies, the Direct Chemist Outlet brand was created to meet the needs of customers through quality service at the best possible price.
The pharmacy chain offers customers a wide variety of products and services for all health, prescription medicines and beauty needs, at a fraction of the usual prices.
Matthew Pittwood, a highly experienced pharmacist and owner of Direct Chemist Outlet Ocean Grove, says the pharmacy is modernising and changing in line with ongoing healthcare changes across Australia.
“We want to provide a complete pharmacy service to the local community with as many options for people as possible,” Matthew says.
Direct Chemist Outlet’s aim is to inspire healthier communities by offering accessible healthcare products and related services at affordable prices.
“We pride ourselves on offering our customers a wide range of services for their healthcare requirements and these include absence from work certificates, delivery services, medschecks, document witnessing, dose administration aids, home medicine reviews and the national diabetes services scheme,” Matthew says.
“We also offer the needle and syringe program as well as opioid dependency treatment, return of unwanted medicines, staged supply and vaccination services.”
Matthew has worked in various pharmacy settings across Victoria and South Australia over the past 25 years, including a three year stint in the UK.
He purchased his first pharmacy while he and his wife were expecting their second child and they were in the process of relocating to the Bellarine Peninsula from Adelaide.
When asked what he enjoys most about being a pharmacist, Matthew said: “I like it when we recommend a product or provide information and people come back a week later and say how helpful it was.”
And what inspired him to become a pharmacist?
“When I was growing up our next door neighbour, who was a friend of my father, was a pharmacist,” Matthew says. “My father in-law also had a pharmacy in Geelong for over 35 years called Woodland’s pharmacy in Highton.
“Our community is very important to us and we pride ourselves on supporting local sporting groups and charities whenever we can,” Matthew adds.
“Our most recent support was to the Ocean Grove Cobras Junior Football Club to help them restock their first aid kits.”
Matthew says as with every business, the employees play a major role in the overall atmosphere of the brand and the store.
“We have a great mix of people … from high school and university students, through to people who have worked in pharmacy for nearly 50 years.
“Each staff member has certain strengths which contribute to the team and they all connect with different customers in different and positive ways.
“I am really lucky to have such a wonderful team of people!”
Keep an eye out for the July Direct Chemist Outlet catalogue out now for a wide range of winter essentials at fantastic prices.
Direct Chemist Outlet Ocean Grove, Shop 1/2-20 Kingston Downs Drive, Ocean Grove. Open 8.45am – 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm Saturday and 10am – 5pm Sundays. Inquiries: 5256 2322
