Petition garners over 2,000 signatures to reinstate pharmacy’s phlebotomy service
A petition calling for the reinstatement of a community pharmacy’s phlebotomy service has amassed over 2,000 signatures.
Earlsdon Pharmacy in Coventry previously provided blood testing but stopped after rising costs made offering the service financially unviable.
“Big demand”
The pharmacy still provides flu and Covid vaccines but has seen “a big demand” by the local community for the return of blood testing.
When staff initially reached out to commissioners to reinstate the service, they were refused and told there was already “adequate provision” available to residents.
After pleading their case a second time, Earlsdon Pharmacy were informed that the service was being reviewed and would be subject to a “needs analysis” to see if the re-introduction of blood testing was justified.
Residents have joined together to form a community group called ‘Earlsdon Street 2.0’, creating media campaigns and posters to raise awareness of the petition, which has now been signed by both the mayor of Coventry and the mayor of the West Midlands.
An “appetite” for the service
Adel Ghulam has been the manager of Earlsdon Pharmacy for 21 years and said that the blood taking service was particularly useful to the community’s elderly residents who “find it challenging” to access services in other areas.
Ghulam said there was a definite “appetite” for the return of the service and said it can “add value” to the local community by “driving footfall” to the area and in turn other local businesses.
He added that the community’s push for the service demonstrates how “if we all work together, we can bring about a positive change for the area that helps everybody”.
Read more: Community pharmacy partners with Southall FC to deliver heart health screenings | C+D Community
It comes after a hyperlocal postcode checker was launched to help UK pharmacies identify and respond to health needs within their local communities.
And it follows a community pharmacy partnering with Southall FC to deliver cardiac screenings to players and club staff.
