Gloucester MP Richard Graham has urged NHS England to include Matson Pharmacy and Rowlands Pharmacy (Alvin Street) in the review that protects pharmacies in poorer areas from funding changes.
Richard wrote to the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (GCCG), NHS England and the Minister for Pharmacies David Mowatt MP to encourage them to support the inclusion of the two Gloucester pharmacies in the Pharmacy Access Scheme (PhAS).
Richard Graham MP said, “the government changes rightly focus on access for all and value for money. This is important when money is tight but we should also protect those pharmacies that are in high need areas. These pharmacies are important to Matson and Kingsholm residents so I wrote to NHS England to support their application.”
Cllr Jennie Watkins, City Council Cabinet Member for Communities, said, “Matson is a great community and place to live, however it is also in the top 3% most deprived areas in the country and Kingsholm in the top 1.5% in England for health needs. After speaking with pharmacists in Matson, they told me how busy they are and how much their services are needed locally. It is important that this is recognised by the Access Scheme.”
Dr Andy Seymour, Clinical Chair of the GCCG, wrote in response to the MP’s letter, “community pharmacies…deliver an integral part of primary care healthcare provision….We would like to add our support for any pharmacy within Gloucestershire which requests a review of eligibility for the Pharmacy Access Scheme.”
The Minister and NHS England have acknowledged Richard’s letters and his points. NHS England aim to complete a review within six weeks of receiving a request from the pharmacy.
The initial list of Pharmacies that qualified for the PhAS were published in October, when a review was announced to consider turned down pharmacies where there may be a high level of deprivation. Matson Pharmacy have already submitted their application to the PhAS and Rowlands Pharmacy expect to submit their application shortly.
Based on the government Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) statistics from 2015, Matson ranked among the top 3% most deprived Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England (902 out of 32,844 LSOAs).
In terms of health deprivation and disability deprivation indices, the area around Rowlands Pharmacy (Kingsholm) ranked 487 out of 32,844 LSOAs, placing it in the top 1.5% of LSOAs in England for health needs.
