Villagers fight pharmacy refusal

11:11pm Sunday 16th March 2008

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By Camilla Sutcliffe »

VILLAGE residents are lobbying health chiefs to change their mind over providing a pharmacy.

A request by Manchester businessman Suhaib Abdullah to open a chemist's shop in Brownside Road, Worsthorne, was rejected by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, after previous assessments had shown a lack of need for the facility.

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But Mr Abdullah is appealing against the decision, and has been backed by parish councillors.

In a letter to the NHS's litigation authority, he said the lack of a GP's surgery in the village increased the need for a pharmacy, to provide advice and basic healthcare.

He said: "The PCT has failed to take into account that there is a high population of under-16s and over-60s. Parents who need a simple over-the-counter remedy to lower a fever or to treat headlice currently have to travel over a mile to obtain the service."

He added that the Department of Health had stated that convenient access to pharmacies was vital to support self-care.

Worsthorne parish councillor Carole Galbraith added: "The Parish Council have written to say they disagree with the PCT and they believe there is a need for a pharmacy as not all residents are affluent - they are from hardworking families who have simply made a decision to live in a rural neighbourhood rather than an urban one.

"Like any other families they would like easy access to a pharmacy when ill, without the additional stress of having to travel into town by bus or car to obtain over the counter remedies and advice."

A spokesman for the PCT said the case was now out of the trust's hands. He said: "Two other applications for this area had been put in previously, and following oral hearings and site visits, the Family Health Services Appeals Authority felt it was not necessary to have another pharmacy.

"The latest application was taken to the contract services panel, and they recommended that the PCT turn it down. The applicant's appeal will be dealt with solely by the national Family Health Services Appeal Unit."