Residents bid to save local pharmacy from being shut

PEOPLE in part of Exeter are fighting to save their pharmacy and prevent what they warn could be a “significant loss to the community”.

The Boots Pharmacy at Mount Pleasant Health Centre is among 12 of the chain’s stores which are due to close next month.

Patients who use the pharmacy have been told their nearest stores will be at Exe Bridges Retail Park or on the High Street.

Earlier this year Boots announced plans to shut 300 stores as part of a 12-month plan to “consolidate the business”.

Eight branches have already shut in 2023 and the dates of a further 12 closures have been confirmed, including two in Devon: the Mount Pleasant store and another at Mudge Way in Plymouth, both due to close on November 18.

A note on the Mount Pleasant pharmacy door reads: “We have a number of ways in which we can continue to support you with your ongoing prescription needs. Please ask for more details.”

News of the closure has prompted concerns in the local community, where residents say they fear the damage the closure will cause to what one described as “an essential element of our health care”.

Chris Lloyd said there were queues outside the chemist every day and sending those people elsewhere could add to congestion, already worsened by the Heavitree and Whipton Active Streets trial.

“Their expectation is that people will drive to their nearest Boots chemist from local GP surgeries when necessary”, he said. “This is directly counter to Devon County Council’s recent programme of road closures and would add to the increasing congestion on the remaining arterial network”.

“Boots’ clientele are, by definition, infirm to some degree, so walking is likely not to be an option and public transport is less than comprehensive. We are trying to raise awareness of this further damage caused by capitalisation of an essential element of our health care.”

A petition to save the pharmacy has been launched by the Exeter Labour Party, which calls on the Government to “properly fund our community pharmacies”.

It highlights a trend of financial strain on pharmacies across the country, due to rising costs and funding cuts.

In January Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “Pharmacies are being chronically underfunded, with funding being cut by 30% over the past seven years in real terms; combined with escalating costs, this has led to more extreme pressures on pharmacies than ever before. They’re delivering many more services, but for less money, and they’re all feeling the pinch now.”

Boots isn’t the first to scale back its pharmacy services; Lloyds Pharmacy announced in January it would be axing 237 of its branches in Sainsbury’s stores.

❝❝ We are trying to raise awareness of this further damage caused by capitalisation of an essential element of our health care Chris Lloyd

STAFF and pupils at Morchard Bishop Church of England Primary School were delighted after an Ofsted inspection report saw it retain its ‘good’ status.

The pre-school and early years curriculum was described as purposeful, allowing children to “get off to a flying start”.

In the main school, the reading curriculum “is having a strong positive impact” on pupils.

The inspectors, who visited in July, were also impressed with the inclusive environment.

Academy head Sam Butler said, “It was great to see Ofsted commenting so positively about a number of the key changes we have recently implemented.”