Update on the Campaign for the
Reinstatement of a Pharmacy In Thames Ditton

We are incredibly disappointed to report that Surrey Heartlands ICB - our regional NHS body which manages Primary Care, including the licensing of local pharmacies, has refused the application to reopen the pharmacy in the village. The decision-making meeting was held behind closed doors so we don’t know what consideration, if any, was given to the content of the many pages of information we passed to the committee, ie. the petition, nearly 100 email messages from local residents about problems encountered since Boots closed, as well as written support from local GP’s: Giggs Hill Green (Glenlyn), Thorkhill Surgery and Esher Green Surgery.

The exact wording of the Surrey Heartlands ICB’s decision is:

‘The (Pharmaceutical Services Regulations) Committee determined that the application should be refused on the following basis:  The PNA (Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment) has not identified an (sic) improvements or better access as required by Regulation 17 which this application could meet.’

We will be considering the decision report very carefully before deciding what we do next – we appreciate that many local residents will be very concerned about this development. We do not yet know whether the applicant will decide - or indeed be able or willing to afford - to Appeal. This is likely to be a very costly exercise probably requiring the services of a barrister.

This decision has huge consequences, not only for the health and well-being of local residents, many of whom are elderly or have young families with restricted ability to travel far for urgent medications etc. It will also have a negative impact on the future of our High Street which relies on essential core services, including a pharmacy in particular, to attract the critical level of footfall needed to maintain the viability of our local shops. This decision appears to be illogical and contradictory not least in the face of the crisis in healthcare. It calls into question the government’s apparent attempts to push more healthcare into the community, not to mention the effect on local residents’ and patients’ confidence in our NHS ICB (Integrated Care Board) body, Surrey Heartlands, which is responsible for local primary care services.

Karen Randolph
TDWGRA Health & Community Convener