Anger at meeting on closure of Boots pharmacy on Portland

More than 50 members of the public attended the meeting at the Portland Community Venue on Friday to discuss action on the closure of the Boots Pharmacy in Fortuneswell. 

The pharmacy is one of just two on the island of 14,000 people. News of the closure has worried residents, who do not believe the Boots in Easton will be able to handle demand, and that the hill poses a geographic obstacle for some.

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Jim Draper, who updated the public on action taken by the council so far, followed by some words from GP Partner at Royal Manor Healthcare Doctor Peter Hill as well as the Portland Mayor and councillor for Underhill, Carralyn Parkes.

Underhill resident Hazel Sheridan is a transplant recipient and regularly uses the Fortuneswell Pharmacy.

She said: "I am angry Boots is closing. I won't be able to manage the hill, I don't know where I am going for my medication."

Julia from Fortuneswell said: "There is more and more housing being built and less and less services. How can Easton be expected to deal with everyone."

One Tophill resident said: "My concern is that the staff are transferring, there's no room for them (at the Easton pharmacy)."

More than 50 people attended the meeting (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Sandra West, who is also a councillor, has several medical conditions including scoliosis and is unable to make the walk to the Easton pharmacy.

She said: "This has got to stop. We can't let them walk all over us. We are living breathing people and we deserve better than Boots chucking us away in the bin because they just don't care."

Pharmacist Stephen McGonigle, from Dorchester Healthcare Limited, attended the meeting and says he will be looking into the feasibility of opening a pharmacy in the area.

He said: "I know a second pharmacy on Portland is viable, it is a busy area for prescribing."

Andy Matthews from the Portland Community Partnership suggested looking into the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which he says in the past has demonstrated that the island needs two pharmacies.

Action suggested included; putting pressure on Boots to stay at Fortuneswell or at least delaying its closure, writing to Richard Drax, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and to Dorset Council, and looking into the feasibility of opening a pharmacy at an alternative site including the Portland Hospital or Osprey Quay, courting another company to step in or even opening a community pharmacy.

Leesa Hardwood from the ICB was scheduled to speak but was unable to attend. MP Richard Drax was also invited but did not attend.

Members of the public were encouraged to write to MP Richard Drax on the issue.

Pharmacist Stephen McGonigle from Dorchester Healthcare Limited believes the island can sustain two pharmacies (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Cllr Parkes has challenged the CEO of Boots Sebastian James to join her in walking from the Gatehouse surgery in Underhill where people would pick up their prescriptions, all the way up to the surgery in Easton to demonstrate the difficulty residents would face.

She has also invited members of the public to join her on the walk, which is tentatively set to take place on Saturday, January 27 at 10.30am.