Survey crucial to opening more Wiltshire pharmacies
We're being asked to have our say on the county's pharmacy provision
Wiltshire could see more pharmacies opened depending on the results of a county-wide survey by the Council.
The council's Public Health team, alongside Healthwatch Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board, has produced a survey into the provision of pharmacy services across the county.
It's known as a a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), and must be done every three years.
Leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Richard Clewer, said: "We've seen a lot of pharmacies close across Wiltshire creating issues for people, particularly more elderly people.
"Some people now will order medicines online and they turn up in the post, That's fine.
"But if that isn't the way that you're used to engaging with the pharmacy, having a pharmacy is really critical and having the right number of pharmacies within a growing population is really important."
The Council Leader told us that there has been pressure on the council to open more pharmacies in Warminster, Amesbury and Corsham, among others.
"To do that, we need to provide the evidence to the Integrated Care Board (the county's NHS authority) to show that need is there and is real because at the moment we're seeing the Integrated Care Board saying there isn't the evidence to support opening new pharmacies where places where people have obviously think there is a need," Cllr Clewer said.
Cllr Clewer added that he wouldn't rule out any solution, saying they could be 'very variable' but that the important step now is to ensure the county's needs are made known, which would allow for all solutions to be on the table.
People can have their say by completing the survey - www.surveymonkey.com/r/QLH952T until the closing date of Thursday 6 March.