A local resident’s group in Surrey is petitioning for its council to “recognise the need for a pharmacy” in Thames Ditton after it rejected the conclusion of a draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). 

Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents’ Association (TDWGRA) member Karen Randolph told C+D this week (23 February) that it started the petition after the “loss of Boots in our local high street was causing difficulties and problems” for local residents, many of whom were the elderly, chronically ill, and parents with young children. 

“Views of local residents clearly indicated that the problems were more significant that we had appreciated,” Randolph said, as Boots shut its Thames Ditton branch in February 2024. 

Read more: Former Boots pharmacy to reopen on uni campus

It follows the draft PNA, set for release in April, concluding that “there are no gaps in the future provision of pharmaceutical services during the lifetime of the PNA”, which ends in March 2028. 

The assessment references 19 pharmacies closing between October 2022 to March 2024, but Randolph said the PNA’s conclusion means the NHS “are very likely to reject any such application” for a new pharmacy in Thames Ditton. 

Walking distance 

She said there is interest “by more than one pharmacist who would like to open up [a pharmacy] in the village” and told C+D that online and paper signatures for the petition, which closes on March 19, have now reached “at least 1000”. 

She added that TDWGRA is concerned the PNA found that a 20-minute walk time to a pharmacy is acceptable.  

Read more: Red tape and rent gets between pharmacist and his Dorset pharmacy dream

She said it’s “virtual impossibility for many people, particularly those who are most likely to need a pharmacist” to do the round-trip journey. 

This is supported by a Healthwatch Surrey report released in May 2024 that said the closure of the Thames Ditton Boots branch “left many people without a pharmacy in walking distance” which affected “people who are less mobile and need regular medication (many of whom are elderly), those with young children and those with financial concerns”. 

Read more: Campaign for new Glastonbury pharmacy stalls as festival looms 

It recommended evaluating the “real impact on local residents, based on what they are saying, not a generic distance metric, should be considered” as well as “how easily residents can walk or get public transport to a pharmacy” should help determine what is considered as “acceptable””. 

A Surrey County Council spokeswoman told C+D that “providing specific recommendations for specific groups is outside the scope of the PNA as per the national guidance”. 

“The Steering Group recognise that certain groups may experience challenges accessing a local pharmacy and so made sure that decisions on geographical gaps in pharmacy provision were informed by a comprehensive understanding of all Surrey residents.  

Read more: Pharmacy closed by GP landlord ‘without notice’ after rent row 

“Many sources of intelligence were reviewed, including the number and distribution of residents who are older, those with a chronic disease and those who have a disability.” 

She added that “high street pharmacies are not the only source of NHS pharmaceutical services available to Surrey residents” and said online distance selling NHS pharmacies are “available to all residents and provide a delivery service”. 

Cornwall demand for a pharmacy 

It comes after a Labour councillor is calling for “extra pharmacy provision” in his Cornwall town. 

St Austell Town councillor Jeremy Preece has launched a petition to gather support for a new pharmacy in the area after two applications for new pharmacies were rejected by the South West Pharmaceutical Services Regulations Committee (PSRC). 

Read more: ‘Enough is enough’: Whistles and crisis at #SaveOurPharmacies protest 

One of them was denied as the applicant had not "adequately identified a current need” and the other because "granting (it) would not confer a significant benefit by way of access to, or choice of, pharmaceutical services". 

St Austell and Newquay MP Noah Law said on social media yesterday (February 24): “I agree with my colleague, town councillor Jermey Preece, that St Austell needs another pharmacy. If you do, too – sign the petition.” 

Read more: ‘Save Our Pharmacies’ protest: as it happened 

C+D has contacted the South West PSRC to view the decisions for the rejected pharmacies. 

It comes after a year-long campaign by Norwich’s University of East Anglia students saw a former Boots reopen on the uni campus in August.

A month earlier, red tape and rent posed an issue for a Dorset pharmacist opening a new pharmacy too, and a campaign in June to open a new community pharmacy in Glastonbury stalled after an appeal against the decision to approve the project.