Selaine Saxby, Conservative MP for North Devon, has been working with local Braunton County Councillor, Pru Maskell, given not just the extreme pressures on the pharmacy in Braunton but on pharmacy services across North Devon.
Selaine Saxby MP said:
“I recently met with the south west team for Lloyds Pharmacy, to better understand the issues that many residents have reported with regards to pharmacy provision, particularly in Braunton.
“Nationally there is a shortage of pharmacists. For rural locations like ours, this is a particular problem. I met with the Head of the new Integrated Care Board (ICB) here a few days earlier, who also flagged the primary issue for pharmacy issues across North Devon is a lack of qualified pharmacists – and pharmacies cannot open without one in store.”
There have been long term concerns about the pharmacy provision in Braunton and that many residents will recall having two pharmacies. Lloyds Pharmacy and the ICB have reported back to the MP that even if there were two pharmacies now, neither would be functioning fully, because the primary issue is the lack of pharmacists available to work within. Lloyds took the decision to merge the operations in Braunton to ensure the long-term viability of the service, even from a single store.
Selaine Saxby MP said:
“It was difficult to hear that sustained abuse from multiple members of the public towards the staff, has become so severe Lloyds are having to employ a security guard. However long the queue for medications, or frustrating it is, it is simply not acceptable to be abusive to staff in any retail or health facility.
Given how many vacancies are available to pharmacists – if we want to retain pharmacists (and their wider pharmacy teams), who are in short supply and can work anywhere, we need to be polite and recognise they are doing their best in very difficult circumstances.”
Lloyds have reported that two new team members have now been recruited at Braunton, but there is still a vacancy for the key pharmacist role, locums are currently being used.
Selaine Saxby MP added:
“I would like to warmly welcome the new team, and also just advise the village that they are not going to be up to speed instantly, and if there is no locum pharmacist available, the store cannot open, and as a community if the abuse continues, it is also likely the viability of the pharmacy will decrease and the situation will get worse not better.
I personally believe Braunton is a big enough community to have two pharmacies, but in the short term, we need to work to ensure the one we have is able to recruit and retain a team who can deliver the vital services we know our pharmacies offer. Other things residents can do to help is sign up for online services, particularly for repeat prescriptions, which will take the pressure of an over-stretched facility that is trying very hard to get back up and running.”
A spokesperson for Lloyds Pharmacy comments:
“Due to staff shortages, our Lloyds Pharmacy in Braunton is experiencing some disruption to its service, resulting in our patients and customers having to wait longer than normal. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We are actively recruiting for a full-time pharmacist but recruiting new pharmacists has become increasingly difficult; there is a shortage of pharmacists, and the profession is listed on the Home Office’s Shortage Occupation List.”
“Legally a pharmacist must be present in the store for it to open and to give patients their prescriptions, therefore at times when a locum pharmacist can’t be sourced in times of sickness and absence our last resort is to temporarily close. Our priority is always to ensure that the community we serve can access the care they need, so in the event of a closure, we signpost customers to alternative pharmacies in the area. The pharmacy has also experienced a number of incidents relating to customer behaviour which are impacting service levels.”
“Our Regional Manager has also met with the local councillor to listen to the concerns of the community and to explain the challenges facing community pharmacy. Thank you to Selaine Saxby MP for taking the time to discuss how we can resolve the issues together. Our priority is to provide the best possible care to our patients and communities. There is significant pressure on community pharmacy and we are working together with other community pharmacy operators and the NHS to address the sector-wide workforce challenges.”
