Last week, I had the privilege of chairing a public meeting at Tiverton Town Hall to discuss the ongoing difficulties residents have been experiencing with pharmacy services in our town.
The meeting, organised by Tiverton Town Council following a motion from Councillor Beckett Fish, brought together local residents, representatives from NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, Clare House Surgery, and Tiverton Pharmacy. I was joined on the panel by Rachel Gilmour MP and Councillor Beckett Fish.
What we heard
The stories we heard were deeply concerning. Residents shared their frustrations about accessing vital pharmacy services, with staffing shortages and medicine supply problems causing real disruption to people’s lives.
The figures from Clare House Surgery’s patient impact assessment were stark:
2,857 responses to their survey
35% unable to buy over-the-counter medicines locally
30% unable to access pharmacy services
301 responses indicating potential patient harm—including missed or delayed medicines, worsening symptoms, and escalation to urgent careUntil recently, Tiverton had seen two of its four contracted pharmacy sites enter administration. The opening of the new Allied Pharmacy site in Market Walk on 12th January is a step forward, and I’m hopeful it will ease some of the immediate pressure.
Why this matters
Pharmacy provision in Tiverton is a matter of real importance to local residents. Holding this public meeting allowed us not only to hear directly from people about their experiences and concerns, but also to ensure those views can feed into the wider public debate and be raised with Government as part of the decision-making process.
What’s happening here in Tiverton reflects wider pressures facing pharmacy services nationally. Community pharmacies are under significant strain – according to the National Pharmacy Association, up to 63% of pharmacies believe they may close within the next year without more support.
It’s vital that local experience helps inform Government decisions about how these essential services are funded and supported for the future.
What happens next
Following the meeting, Rachel Gilmour MP has written to Health Minister Stephen Kinnock requesting a meeting to discuss what we learned. I will continue to work with our MP, Tiverton Town Council, and local representatives to keep pressure on NHS Devon ICB and Government to improve pharmacy provision in our community.
If you have concerns about pharmacy services in Tiverton West, please do get in touch with me. Your experiences matter, and I want to make sure your voice is heard.