People of Surrey want another Pharmacy but NHS says no

Almost 1,200 people in Surrey have signed a petition to input a new chemist on Thames Ditton's high street, following the closure of it's Boots store which was one of 19 pharmacies to close between October 2022- March 2024.

Following a health and well-being meeting on Wednesday the 19th of March, statements being made by locals outlined the need for a new pharmacy.

One woman claimed that it was "unacceptable" as she had to walk for nearly an hours' round trip to get medication for her sick child due to her lack of car.

Despite the petition, the health board continued with their conclusion that Surrey cannot receive a new pharmacy.

Public Health consultant, Louis Hall, expressed his concern by adding,

"It might be the same challenges with GPs, opticians, hospitals, post offices, shops. It is not so much a pharmacy issue necessary, but a health and care issue.”

Despite the call from the public, drafts of Surrey’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) – which is a legal document that looks directly at maps of where pharmacies are in Surrey, found current provision to be sufficient.

Public health officials claim that research found it was acceptable for most people to be able to drive within 20 minutes to their nearest pharmacy, or walk between 20-30 minutes depending on the geography.

Julia Powell, the Chief Executive Officer for Community Pharmacy Surrey and Sussex, explained that opening another pharmacy could dilute the funding further as it would provide more competition in an already 'saturated market'.

NHS and public health officials said they will continue to monitor if the need for pharmacies in Surrey changes.