Wiltshire councillor calls for pharmacy system overhaul

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 06:02 · Archive

Wiltshire Council has unanimously backed demands to overhaul the national system for assessing pharmacy needs after elderly residents reported queuing in rain.

Wiltshire Council unanimously backed demands to overhaul the national Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) system used to decide whether communities need more pharmacies. The call came after elderly and sick residents reported queuing outside pharmacies in heavy rain to collect prescriptions.

Conservative councillor Monica Devendran, representing Amesbury West, has campaigned since 2022 for a third pharmacy in the growing town. She told full council on 20 October that Amesbury's two existing pharmacies are struggling to serve residents as the town expands with new housing developments. She said: 'Residents regularly contact me about the long queues and delays in collecting prescriptions. I have seen people standing outside pharmacies in the downpour of rain simply waiting to collect their medicines.'

Cllr Devendran argued the PNA system was failing to measure what actually matters to residents. She noted that applications for additional pharmacy provision had been refused, with the assessment playing a significant role in those decisions. She said residents had participated in the latest consultation but some complained the survey did not allow them to fully explain their experiences.

How it is being reported

• Elderly residents ‘left standing in rain’ queuing for pharmacyElderly and sick residents are being left queuing outside pharmacies in the pouring rain.Wiltshire Times · 25 Oct, 05:00
• Elderly residents ‘left standing in rain’ queuing for pharmacyElderly and sick residents are being left queuing outside pharmacies in the pouring rain.Gazette & Herald · 25 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Monica Devendran · Wiltshire Council · Amesbury

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