Data shows three pharmacies in Blackburn closed in two years

Analysis by the National Pharmacy Association shows three pharmacies have closed in Blackburn with Darwen in the past two years.

In the rest of the county, the figures have dropped to 252 pharmacies this year as opposed to 268 two years ago.

Over in the Ribble Valley, Wasim Ahmed, from Mellor Pharmacy in Carter Fold, says the cuts to funding have been the biggest reason for the number of closures.

Three pharmacies have closed in Blackburn in the last two years, according to recent analysis (Image: PA/Radar)

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Because there have been closures, there is no access for the public. Before, you used to have pharmacies that were open late.

“The few that are open, the funding isn’t there to employ enough staff, so even though you’ve got more people coming through the door, you’re struggling to manage demand.

“Access is the biggest thing. Unfortunately for the public, the access isn’t there compared to what it was before.”

Mr Ahmed cited the Pharmacy First scheme, introduced by the NHS in January, as a potential source of income for pharmacies.

The service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service which has run since October 2019, which enables patients to be referred to a community pharmacy for minor illnesses or an urgent repeat medicine supply.

READ MORE: Pharmacy at heart of Colne community for 38 years to close for good on Friday

It also enables community pharmacies to complete episodes of care for seven common conditions following defined clinical pathways.

However, Mr Ahmed says advertisements for the service have been poor, saying: “The advertisement hasn’t been there. It’s not been publicised well enough.

“That was an avenue of income for us but unfortunately it’s not been utilised. That’s another area we’re struggling with.

“The majority of our income comes through dispensing and services. The funding hasn’t been uplifted, in fact, there have been massive cuts to it. That’s the biggest reason for these closures.”

Paul Rees, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said the government needs to “act now” to stabilise the pharmacy network and lay out a route for a “properly funded future.”

He said: “Ministers must provide pharmacies with a new deal to fix the current broken contract now. This will halt the closures and allow pharmacies to deliver first class accessible healthcare on people’s doorsteps.”

In Blackburn with Darwen, there are an estimated 25 pharmacies per 100,000 people, while in the rest of Lancashire there are around 20 per 100,000 people.

Last month, leaders from the pharmacy sector warned the number of pharmacies in England could fall below 10,000 for the first time since 2005.

They also claimed seven pharmacies a week have closed in 2024 so far, with more than 1,500 shutting down since 2015 due to budget cuts and the increased cost of medicine.

Mellor Pharmacy (Image: Google Maps)

Last year, the pharmacy inside the Asda store in Blackburn’s Lower Audley Retail Park closed down for financial reasons.

A statement at the time said the pharmacy had been “running at a loss for a number of years, while a resident also said she was worried it would make getting hold of her medicine more difficult.

David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: “Pharmacies have an important place in our local economy.

“Councils want every local area to have a strong community pharmacy network, particularly those in deprived areas with the greatest health needs, or rural communities with the furthest distance to travel.

“If this lifeline was removed, it would mean more people having to potentially travel longer distances to GP surgeries and adding to existing pressures.”

Fiona Inston, public health associate at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said: “Pharmacies are vital to our communities and we want every local area to have access to a strong community pharmacy, particularly for people living in areas with the greatest health needs, or in rural communities with the furthest distance to travel.

"Data from the last Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment  shows that Blackburn with Darwen had 31 pharmacies per 100,000, which is more than the Lancashire and England averages.

"We know that the rates of pharmacies are continuing to decline and we will continue to monitor this as part of our PNA process.”