North East Fife’s MP Sir Menzies Campbell is keeping up the pressure on the NHS to reject plans for a new pharmacy in Leuchars that will put the medical practices in Balmullo and Leuchars at risk.
In a letter to NHS Fife Chairman Professor James McGoldrick, Sir Menzies voiced the “serious concerns in the local community about the inadequacies of the proposed new pharmacy†and the strength of feeling in the area which was displayed at the “standing room only†meetings in Leuchars and Balmullo.
In his letter Sir Menzies said:
“My colleague Iain Smith MSP and I attended a public meeting in Balmullo in our constituency on Thursday 17th September where members of the public took the opportunity to voice their concerns at the proposals for the introduction of a pharmacy in the premises of the Leuchars Post Office. This meeting was very well attended by nearly 200 local residents and I understand that the previous nights meeting in Leuchars had in the region of 220 people. Needless to say that there was standing room only.
“I am sure that you are fully aware of the extent of local opposition to this application especially given the circumstances in which it has arisen. This application was the second of its kind and followed the refusal of the first at remarkable speed. I understand that this application was submitted by a different company to that of the first, but there is no doubt that there are profound similarities between the two.
“The community in Leuchars and Balmullo have endured a long and anxious wait with regard to this matter and are fighting a battle with no end in sight. If the local medical practice were to win the appeal against this decision there is nothing stopping further applications being lodged in an effort to wear down opposition by attrition. The regulations regarding such applications leave much to be desired, hence Iain Smith and I have called for a change in the regulations to prevent repeat applications where there is no material change of circumstances.
“There are serious concerns in the local community about the inadequacies of this new pharmacy in Leuchars which warrant consideration. These include the lack of disabled access to the building, limited parking availability, internal space constraints and of course the loss of a dispensing facility to serve Balmullo.
“The local community also faces the possibility of losing a doctor’s surgery, whether in Leuchars or Balmullo, and convenient access to other services such as community midwifery that operate from that surgery. Waiting times for appointments may well increase as a result and the overall quality of care available will be adversely affected.
“I would be grateful for your clarification on two points raised at this meeting. First, why did NHS Fife not see fit to consult with the local community about this matter? Second, what are the changes to the initial application that warranted approval?â€
