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Leuchars and Balmullo
Patients' Fight Goes On
Dispensing patient, Alan Kennedy reports
28th of September 2009
The public in Balmullo and Leuchars were left reeling after the announcement that the Fife Pharmacy Practices Committee meeting on 12th August approved the second application for a pharmacy in Leuchars. This was the same Committee that previously rejected an almost identical application on the grounds that it was neither necessary nor desirable. So what changed the Committee members' minds? There is absolutely nothing within the minutes to indicate why they decided to approve it. The only differences in the second application was a slight increase in proposed opening hours and the attachment of a random survey of one hundred people in Leuchars alone. The survey was interpreted by the applicants as showing there was no local objection to a pharmacy but was so flawed in execution that it will surely be dismissed as invalid in the appeal against the decision that the local dispensing surgery has entered. The same old problems re the proposed premises remain unaltered with even the applicant admitting their deficiencies.
Political support
Patients in the communities were so incensed at having to defend yet again their excellent dispensing services from the surgeries that two further meetings were held last week. On both occasions hundreds turned up and the halls were packed to overflowing. There can be little doubt about the strength of local feeling the current situation has created. At the second meeting in Balmullo, Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Iain Smith MSP attended together with local Fife councillors.
Sir Menzies mentioned that in the case of applications made prior to 1st July we might have recourse to EU law and in particular Human Rights legislation (More about that below).
It was interesting that the pharmacy applicant, Mr James Semple of the TLC pharmacy group, albeit invited, refused to attend either meeting, although he did a short piece to ITV extolling the need as he saw it for a pharmacy. Communities Councils issued all with a copy of his carefully edited justification for the application. Little notice was taken of that as far as the audiences were concerned
Surgery closures
The audiences at both meetings were given very frank and open statements by the GPs concerned about the likely effect on the present two surgery situation. One surgery may well have to close or go part time if dispensing income is lost along with one of the three doctors. All the well known concerns about the unsuitability of the proposed premises in respect of access, inside layout and much more were yet again aired and confirmed. Not one voice was raised in support of a pharmacy at either meeting
Following the meetings I decided to set up a Forum involving ‘movers and shakers' from both Community Councils to decide on the next step, with the overall aim to keep the matter in the public eye both locally and nationally. This has got off to a great start. Nicola Sturgeon was tackled on the matter when she opened the new St Andrews Hospital on 21st September. The minister said the Scottish Government "will take full account of the representations made in the current process of reviewing the regulations" and she praised those making the protest for caring enough to do something about it. She also said that the new regulations might help address some of our concerns.
It pays to protest and I hope all who have the opportunity to influence the outcome of the Pharmacy Regulation review to bring about a much fairer and more sensible system will do so. Meanwhile our Forum group is working on other aspects of our cause. Legal advice is already being sought regarding EU Law and the Forum Group hopes to start up its own website which will enable many more to input views and gain advice on what to do to save our dispensing surgeries. The fight will go on whatever the outcome to the present Leuchars and Balmullo practice's appeal but we expect to win. No other outcome is acceptable.
Dr Allan Tennant adds
Fife Today has an excellent report Opponents step up campaign against Leuchars pharmacy
Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon was lobbied by angry patients at the opening of a new hospital in St Andrews as Mr Kennedy alludes too in his article.
The Fife today story also has a picture of the sub post office where patients will have to pick up their medication, on a busy road, with limited parking and no disabled access.