Campaign to save pharmacies receives backing

Drug dispensaries in the form of high street and online pharmacy services play a crucial role in the provision of medical products. Indeed, without access to either local pharmacies or an online chemist, many people would suffer.

Recently, a campaign to prevent the closure of rural pharmacies in a number of villages in central England received further backing. Under plans announced by Leicestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT), financial support for pharmacies associated with village doctors surgeries will be withdrawn, the Hinckley Times reports. This is because they are being reclassified as urban as opposed to rural.

According to opponents of the proposals, this will mean some people have to travel three times are far if they want to pick up prescriptions in person. The villages set to be affected are Barlestone, Newbold Verdon, Desford, Market Bosworth and Stoke Golding.However, Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman councillor Bill Crooks is tabling a motion calling for the pharmacies to be kept. He said: “These pharmacies are a vital service in these villages. In most of these villages, they are the only pharmacy. Getting rid of them will mean that many sick people may have to travel further to collect their medicines.”

“We are urging the PCT to think again and continue supporting these pharmacies.”Pressure was also put on the trust last month, when Bosworth MP David Tredinnick urged the organisation to reconsider its decision. Meanwhile, a petition is also circulating around Stoke Golding.

Over coming years, the ways in which people use pharmacies and online chemist service providers is likely to change considerably. The government is planning to implement changes to the healthcare system in the near future. It is not yet fully clear how this will impact on the high street and online pharmacy sector, but more details will emerge when the final decisions have been made.