Members of the community are being urged to make their opinions on pharmaceutical provision in Campbeltown known as a consultation on the opening of a new pharmacy officially begins.
Zakpharma Ltd intends to submit an application to NHS Highland to open a new, independent pharmacy at 2 Mafeking Place, in what is currently the Kintyre Photography shop.
As part of the application process, NHS Highland and Zakpharma Ltd are undertaking a joint consultation exercise, seeking the views of people who may be affected by this, or who would use the pharmacy at its proposed location.
They aim to determine whether residents feel they already have adequate access to pharmacy services in the area and to gauge support for the application.
The questionnaire is open to anyone accessing pharmacy services in Campbeltown, including those residing in surrounding villages and hamlets in Kintyre.
The consultation process began on Monday (January 29) and will last for 90 working days, closing on Wednesday June 5; no responses can be accepted after 5pm on the closing date.
Syed Ali Kazam, Idreece Khan and Zain Younis, the pharmacists behind the plan, attended Campbeltown Community Council’s most recent meeting to share more information about their proposal to create a new ‘healthcare hub’ in Campbeltown.
Their decision comes after national pharmacy chain Boots closed one of its two Campbeltown branches in November, with its remaining Longrow South store now the town’s only pharmacy.
The men plan to offer free home delivery of prescriptions, the Pharmacy First scheme, where patients can consult with the pharmacy team for professional advice and treatment for minor ailments before making an appointment with their GP, and free health checks, including blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring.
Their proposed opening hours are: 8.30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, with no lunchtime closures.
Mr Younis has five years of pharmacy expertise, with a profound understanding of healthcare needs in rural communities, and Mr Khan’s experience spans managing both independent and large pharmacy chains.
They will support Mr Kazam, who will be the business’s primary pharmacist, and who knows the area well, having previously worked as a locum pharmacist in Campbeltown for two months.
“The survey responses are crucial as they will serve as strong evidence for the health board’s final decision on our pharmacy proposal,” said Mr Kazam.
Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess is among those urging Kintyre residents to respond to the consultation, having written to NHS Highland to express her support for the proposal.
In a letter to NHS Highland chief executive Pamela Dudek, Ms Burgess compared the provision of pharmacy services in Campbeltown with the rest of the UK and raised concerns about a risk to out-of-hours provision.
She said: “According to the World Health Organisation, on average the UK has a little over eight pharmacists per 10,000 people. Currently, Campbeltown – a settlement of 4,600 – has just one pharmacist serving both the town and wider rural hinterland.
“There’s clearly a lack of provision and, with an ageing population, I was pleased to hear that there are proposals already to bring an independent pharmacy to the town.”
The public consultation questionnaire can be completed online at forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=veDvEDCgykuAnLXmdF5JmoBCXsTY-NxJgSqKQQIa9-hUMVk1MVAwNTVYMUc1SU05Q1hBR1BMMzdLWS4u
Paper copies can be collected from Campbeltown Medical Practice, Keeping It Local at 15-17 Main Street, the Co-op supermarket or Campbeltown Library.
A paper copy/large print copy of the survey can also be requested by telephoning 01463 706886 or by writing to: Secretary to the Pharmacy Practices Committee, NHS Highland NHS Highland Community Pharmacy Services, Assynt House Beechwood Park, Inverness, IV2 3BW.
All views submitted will be incorporated into a consultation analysis report that will be taken into account by the NHS Highland Pharmacy Practices Committee, which decides the outcome of an application.
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