Pharmacies in Devon ‘buckling under pressure’ amid closures

Pharmacists have said they are struggling to cope with the pressure following a series of closures amid a lack of funding for the service.

Figures from the National Pharmacy Association show Plymouth has the seventh highest pharmacy closure rate in the country.

Nali Nouri, owner of Speedwell Pharmacy in Estover, said his team handled 24,000 items a month, making it one of the busiest in the city. But even with 18 staff, he could not find enough qualified people to open six days a week.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it had promised a bigger role for community pharmacies in its 10 Year Health Plan with a 19% funding boost to £3.1bn this year.

Mr Nouri said: “We’ve had to close on Saturdays since January. The workload’s intense and rising National Insurance costs are making things worse.

“Plymouth is the second hardest city to find a pharmacist.”

He said Plymouth University had a new pharmacy school but it would not produce graduates for three or four years.

Pharmacists have said they are ready to deliver the extra services the government wants, but they needed to be open to do it.

Olivier Picard of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said: “We’re working harder for less. We need more staff and longer hours to fill the gaps left by closures. That comes at a cost, and for some, it’s just too much.”

Hyde Park Pharmacy in Mutley said it was supplementing the pharmacy by offering private services like weight loss and travel clinics.

“That’s what has kept us afloat,” said pharmacist Alex James.

“It’s definitely a challenging climate. NHS funding has flat-lined for years, and rising costs from the minimum wage and National Insurance are hitting hard.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Community pharmacists are at the heart of local healthcare and through our 10 Year Health Plan, we will ensure they play an even greater role as we bring more care out of hospitals and closer to where people live.

“This year we’ve increased funding to community pharmacies by 19% to almost £3.1bn, the largest uplift in funding for any part of the NHS, so our dedicated pharmacists can provide easy access to high-quality care to all.”