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The Boots pharmacy at St Andrew’s Parade in the Bournville area of the town has been earmarked for closure in February 2024 leaving the community without local access to medication and pharmacy advice.
People living in Bournville experience some of the greatest health inequalities in England and the second highest level of disability in North Somerset. The proposed closure would significantly affect very vulnerable groups living on the estate who have very limited means of accessing other pharmacies nearby.
Cllr Jenna Ho Marris, responsible for public health at North Somerset Council said: “It’s essential that our community with the greatest need for easy access to medication have a pharmacy near to where they live. A third of people living in the area don’t have their own transport and the next nearest pharmacies are not within easy reach.
“Despite everything, this is a resilient community, and the care and knowledge of local pharmacists plays a huge part. Pharmacies are businesses, but funding has been cut year after year, leaving big and small operators alike running at a loss, and the real price will fall on local people. Keep this pharmacy open - help us continue to tackle health inequalities.”
Cllr Ho Marris has signed letters to both Boots and the NHS alongside the Leader of North Somerset Council, Cllr Mike Bell and the two local ward members Cllr Ian Parker and Cllr James Clayton.
Cllr Mike Bell added: “We are calling on Boots and NHS commissioners to rethink this decision and find a way to ensure that the community still have a chemist nearby.
“We’ll continue to campaign on their behalf until an appropriate alternative model of care is confirmed. This is not something that can be left to chance.”
Bournville residents already experience physical and psychological barriers to leaving the area, making the availability of nearby healthcare services even more critical, an issue that’s concerning their local councillors:
“Cllr Parker and I share our residents’ concerns about the prospect of losing the pharmacy. They already have a lot to deal with including cost of living pressures and struggling to manage their healthcare needs in a timely and effective way.
“We want them to have a chemist nearby. Boots is ideal as it’s directly opposite their local GP practice and they can easily move between the two buildings for their healthcare needs. The loss of an easy to access service could have dire consequences at an individual and community level,” said Cllr James Clayton, local ward member.
The councillors have written to both Boots and the NHS this week, calling for a rethink and requesting a reply as soon as possible which sets out actions have taken place so far and what the next steps will be.