Cat Smith Working for Lancaster and Wyre
Unplanned closures at Knott-End pharmacy ‘Jhoots’, have been brought to my attention by concerned local residents asking me to intervene to ensure that the pharmacy does not close its doors for good.
I believe that Jhoots pharmacy has been experiencing some staffing difficulties leading to the unplanned closures.
I do recognise that although pharmacies are private businesses, the services they offer the community are vital and so any closures can have a detrimental impact to the care that people receive – especially in more rural areas such as Knott-End.
I know that other pharmacies in the surrounding area have been feeling the impact of the unplanned closures at Jhoots too and since I was made aware of this matter, I raised it with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the letter which you can read below, highlighting the challenges that rural community pharmacy is facing and have asked that the Government focus on this going forward.
Pharmacies do not get enough credit for being on the front line of health care by actively preventing deaths and alleviating wider NHS pressures.
Last year I visited several pharmacies across the area that told me they were at risk of closure and that they felt left behind and used by the last Government after being heroes during the Pandemic; administering testing, facilitating the vaccine roll out and offering lifesaving patient care. I did raise this with the previous government, demanding them to review the current deal for community pharmacy and urged them to roll out more funding which, sadly, did not happen.
Once I have a response from the new Secretary of State I will share that on here, but should you have any further concerns on this then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at cat.smith.mp@parliament.uk.
