WEEKDAY chemist rotas are to be scrapped across East Lancashire from April 1 for a year's trial.

The shake-up, agreed by health bosses and pharmacists, could mean fewer pharmacies opening after 5.30pm between Monday and Saturday for patients to pick up prescriptions.

Most pharmacists are in favour of the move, which will result in them being paid more for opening on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Most East Lancashire towns have a rota system where a duty chemist takes turns to open out of normal hours.

Chemists on the rota are paid an hourly fee by East Lancashire Health Authority for opening out of hours and also for opening on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

But the health authority's budget for chemist rotas has not been increased by the Government, and pharmacies say the weekday rota system is no longer feasible. East Lancashire Pharmaceutical Committee spokesman Peter Tattersall said: "It is impossible to say whether there will be fewer chemists opening late.

"We are confident there will be little effect on the public.

"The changes will produce a more realistic form of payment for pharmacists.

"During the past three years we have had no increase in remuneration for doing rotas, so the midweek rotas will be discontinued from April 1.

"The change in the GP out of hours service has also had a big impact on the number of prescriptions we are dispensing and some chemists which open late may only give out one prescription during a late-night session.

"Individual pharmacies choose to open late outside of the rota system and I am sure will continue to do so."

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