A VENDING machine to allow customers to pick up prescriptions at any time of day or night is one of the services which could come to Dalgety Bay if proposals for a new pharmacy is given the thumbs up.

Dears Pharmacy want to open in Cochrane Way and a public consultation is currently under way.

The move would see the creation of up to 10 full-time jobs in the town as well as a range of additional services.

Managing director and superintendent pharmacist Mahyar Nickkho-Amiry said they were keen to offer the Dalgety Bay community more of a choice – as well as a round-the-clock service for prescriptions.

"Dalgety Bay is an area with a large number of officers and factories nearby," he explained. "With customers going to work at different hours, we wanted to offer a 24-hour collection point there and, if we get the go-ahead, are planning to install this.

"The idea is you can come to the machine, put your prescription through or ask us to collect it from the surgery. When it is ready to pick up, we will send the person, based on their registration details, a text message which contains a PIN and they can come any time."

With its headquarters in Lochgelly, Dears Pharmacy was established 30 years ago and now has 10 outlets across Edinburgh and Fife.

Mr Nickkho-Amiry added: "They all offer a very high level of customer service and also offer travel clinics, children's vaccinations and a range of other services including health clinics – we provide 150 different services."

They have been invited to speak to members of Dalgety Bay and Hillend Community Council next month and anyone wanting to take part in the consultation can do so by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9H5WJD7.