Why We Must Protect Local Pharmacies

After several pharmacies closed in recent years, Newbury and West Berkshire has felt the full impact of reduced pharmacy provision. We now have the lowest pharmacy provision in the country, and for many people that has meant relying on a small number of large chains, long queues, and limited choice at a time when they simply want to collect a prescription and move on with their day. 

That’s why the arrival of small independent chemists such as Medwell Chemist is so important. Medwell Chemist was opened in January this year by Abbas Chaudhry and has been serving happy patients in Newbury and the surrounding area ever since. I visited their central location last week, and it was a reminder of what an efficient local pharmacy experience can look like. 

With fewer patients than the major chains, Medwell Chemist can offer a more personal service and, crucially, shorter queues. For many residents, that alone makes a noticeable difference. 

But even with the benefits of being smaller and more flexible, Medwell faces the same pressures affecting pharmacies across the NHS. These issues aren’t unique to Newbury and West Berkshire; they’re part of a national pattern that has been building for years. 

Community and dispensing GPs have told me time and again how NHS funding often doesn’t cover the true cost of dispensing many prescriptions. Instead, pharmacies are left to absorb the difference, and for some, that means operating at a loss. 

What’s more, as GP practices struggle to meet rising demand, pharmacies are taking on more clinical services, including administering vaccinations and treating minor illnesses. This is good for patients, but it adds to pharmacists’ workload without always adding the resources needed to support it. 

When a pharmacy shuts its doors, the impact is felt immediately. Patients must travel greater distances, endure longer queues, and call around to find the medicine they rely on. 

Independent pharmacies like Medwell Chemist play a crucial role in filling the gaps left by the closure of bigger pharmacies. They bring flexibility, local knowledge, and a level of service that can be hard to maintain in overstretched larger branches. They also help reduce pressure on GPs and urgent care by offering accessible advice and support. 

But they can only continue doing this if the system around them is sustainable.  

Pharmacies are a core part of the NHS, and losing more of them would have real consequences for patients. Supporting them is essential if we want to maintain accessible, reliable healthcare in our communities. 

Medwell Chemist is a positive example of what good local pharmacy provision can look like. The challenge now is ensuring that businesses like theirs can continue to operate and grow, rather than becoming the next casualty of a system under pressure. 

If you are looking for a local pharmacy to collect your prescriptions from, you can find Medwell Chemist at 61 Bartholomew St, Newbury RG14 5QH, next to the railway bridge.  

Find out more about their services by visiting their website: https://medwellchemist.co.uk/