Concerns raised after Croasdales Chemist, on Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds, announces it is cutting opening hours

A pharmacy on a Bury St Edmunds estate has announced it is reducing its opening hours due to cost pressures.

Croasdales Chemist, based at Mount Farm Surgery, in Lawson Place, Moreton Hall, has told its patients it is regretfully having to adjust its opening hours to ensure they can continue serving the community.

The changes will mean the pharmacy will be open for 10 hours less a week.

The new hours will be 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm Monday to Friday, taking effect from April 29.

Andy McGowan, vice-chair of the Moreton Hall Residents’ Association (MHRA), said: “We are extremely concerned about the continued reduction of health services provision for residents of Moreton Hall.”

The letter from Croasdales, at Mount Farm, said the pharmacy had seen an increase in patients, but the amount it was reimbursed by the Government for medicines often didn’t cover the cost of supplying them.

“At the same time, we have had to employ more staff to manage the increasing workload, which has put even more financial strain on us,” the letter said.

It said that Government funding for pharmacies had remained stagnant while costs had risen dramatically, mentioning the minimum wage, energy, medicine supply and operational costs, and rent.

The letter added: “With little financial support from the Government, an average of seven pharmacies per week have closed since January 2023. To avoid closure and continue providing essential services, we must adjust our hours.

“We remain committed to providing the best possible care and will reassess our hours if fair pharmacy funding is introduced.”

The pharmacy said patients could consider raising this issue with their local MP, Peter Prinsley.

Mr McGowan said: “Following the closure of the pharmacy in Sainsbury's two years ago, we were already without any access to pharmacies on a Saturday in the area.

“These changes which the funding pressures have forced are now reducing further the limited evening provision in the area.

“This change follows quickly from the stopping of NHS services at the dentist in Moreton Hall earlier this year.

“Whilst the issues of pharmacy and dentist funding are largely national ones, there needs to be a local plan for how we stop the trend of the number of houses in the area going up whilst the health infrastructure in Moreton Hall goes down.

“With new developments under way on Lady Miriam Way and the potential for more than 100 new homes off of Mount Road, we urgently need to see more investment in health services in the area."

A statement from Mr Prinsley’s office said: “Dr Prinsley completely understands residents' concerns about the reduced opening hours at the Croasdales Pharmacy on Moreton Hall, particularly given rising costs and funding pressures facing community pharmacies.

“The Government recognises the importance of building strong foundations for pharmacy services and has recently committed an additional £215 million investment in Pharmacy First, as well as plans to expand independent prescribing powers for pharmacists.

“These measures are specifically designed to stabilise pharmacy services, addressing the challenges highlighted by Croasdales Pharmacy, and ensuring local pharmacies remain accessible and sustainable for our communities."

In January, NHS patients at Saxon Dental Practice, also in Lawson Place, Moreton Hall, spoke of their disappointment after being told it was privatising.

The practice sent letters to patients explaining that from March 31 it would no longer be an NHS practice.

There is also a Croasdales Chemist in Bury St Edmunds town centre.