Clapham Parish Council has been made aware of an application to open an additional pharmacy in the village.
Clapham is already served by Herbert & Herbert Chemist, which has provided an established pharmacy service to the local community for around 30 years. The Parish Council is reviewing the application and intends to submit a formal representation reflecting the interests and experiences of Clapham residents.
Why could another pharmacy affect existing services?
It may seem that having two pharmacies rather than one would simply provide residents with greater choice. However, community pharmacies depend upon receiving a sufficient number of prescriptions, customers and NHS service referrals to remain sustainable.
If the existing level of local demand is divided between two providers, both pharmacies could have fewer prescriptions and customers to support the cost of delivering their services.
The Parish Council is therefore concerned that introducing an additional pharmacy, without clear evidence that the current provision is inadequate, could potentially weaken rather than strengthen pharmacy services within the village.
Our priority is to protect the long-term resilience, accessibility and sustainability of pharmacy provision for Clapham residents.
Residents are invited to have their say
We would like to hear from residents who use local pharmacy services.
If you value the service currently provided by Herbert & Herbert Chemist, or have views about whether Clapham requires an additional pharmacy, please write to the Parish Council or email:
Please explain, in your own words:
- what the existing pharmacy service means to you and your household;
- how you currently use the pharmacy and the services it provides;
- whether you have experienced any difficulty accessing pharmacy services locally; and
- whether you believe an additional pharmacy is needed in Clapham.
Comments received from residents will help the Parish Council present evidence of the real experiences of people who use local pharmacy services when preparing its representation.
Please share this information with other Clapham residents so that as many people as possible are aware of the application and have an opportunity to express their views.
To receive the latest updates about this application, as well as other important local news, consultations and community information, please follow Clapham Parish Council on Facebook and encourage friends and neighbours in the village to do the same.