Tackling Devon’s pharmacy crisis

I raised the deeply troubling state of pharmacy services in Devon at the county council’s cabinet meeting this week, urging the council to take action on an issue that is causing real harm to residents.

What the evidence shows

The scale of the problem became clear through a survey of 3,000 people in Tiverton, which revealed shocking findings:

35% couldn't buy basic over-the-counter medicine locally
30% couldn't access a pharmacy at all
10% reported potential patient harm from missed medications and worsening symptoms

As a direct result, GP appointments in Tiverton have increased by 10%, placing additional strain on an already stretched healthcare system.

A national crisis playing out locally

This is not just a local issue. Across England last year, there were 436 permanent pharmacy closures and around 13,000 temporary closures. Staff shortages are the most common reason pharmacies are closing their doors.

The outlook is bleak: 63% of pharmacies say they may close without more support in the next year. What’s more, these closures are disproportionately affecting the most deprived communities – those who can least afford to travel further or wait longer for essential medications.

A call for action

At the cabinet meeting, I called for a motion on this issue to be discussed at the next full council meeting in May.

I want to be clear: this is not about blame. Devon County Council does not directly control pharmacies – they contract with the NHS. However, the council can and must lobby government and work with health partners to address this crisis.

What we are seeing is a systemic failure across funding, workforce, supply chain and commissioning. It requires a systemic response.

The Council’s response

I was encouraged to hear that the council has already written to the Secretary of State for Health and received a positive response. The government has indicated plans to give pharmacy technicians greater responsibilities to free up pharmacist time, which could help ease some of the pressure.

But we need to go further and faster. Residents in Tiverton West and across Devon deserve reliable access to pharmacy services. I will continue to push this issue at county hall and keep you updated on progress.