Sudbury Town Council supports appeal against decision to refuse new pharmacy at community health centre
The refusal of a new pharmacy at a Sudbury GP surgery has been branded ‘a scandal’, with councillors insisting it was designed to have this provision ‘from day one’.
Town councillors reacted with disappointment at the decision to reject an application to install a pharmacy at Sudbury Community Health Centre – also the home of Siam Surgery.
Last month, Primary Care Support England (PCSE) ruled that there was already sufficient options for people to access pharmaceutical services in the Sudbury area.
However, applicant Zahid Shah – a practicing locum pharmacist in Sudbury – confirmed he would appeal the decision, citing the high demand and pressures on existing dispensaries.
These concerns were echoed at this month’s Sudbury Town Council meeting, which highlighted that the health centre already includes a pharmacy provision in its original planning permission.
Nigel Bennett said: “It was designed and was meant to have a pharmacy. The NHS wanted a pharmacy there; the GP practice wanted a pharmacy there.
“What you have got is a body deciding there are enough pharmacies in Sudbury, even though we have lost some.
“You can only draw the conclusion that this committee is looking to protect existing pharmacies.
“That’s awful, because you’ve got people going into a GP practice, who may have mobility issues and difficulties, who then have to go somewhere else to get their prescription.
“The whole intention was for there to be one. The space is there, and has been there since day one, since the surgery was built. It’s a scandal. It’s meant to be integrated healthcare.”
Members also described their own difficulties, such as lengthy waits to collect their prescriptions.
This was reportedly exacerbated by the recent reduction in hours at Boots, and the closure of Lloyds at Sainsbury’s supermarket.
Jan Osborne told the meeting: “Unfortunately, it seems they don’t understand and appreciate the problems we have.
“How long have we all had to queue up in Boots for prescriptions? We’re being asked to go there if we’ve got minor conditions.”
Adrian Stohr added: “Sometimes, I have to wait half an hour to 45 minutes to get my medication for the month.
“There are a lot of other people saying they go to Tesco or other pharmacies and they are in a queue for half an hour.
“This isn’t good for people who are actually disabled or poorly. I don’t think this body, which has voted it down, has looked into people with disabilities, in respect of this pharmacy.
“This young gentleman is trying his best to get this pharmacy up and running, and we should support it all the way. They deserve to have a pharmacy at Siam Surgery.”
People concerned about access to pharmacies in Sudbury can contact the Suffolk and North-East Essex Patient Advice and Liaison Service.
