Members of Monkton Community Council have been left dismayed by the news that the opening of a new community pharmacy in the Ayrshire village has been further delayed.
Ayrshire Live has learned that Burns Pharmacy Ltd (Toll pharmacy) lodged an objection to NHS Ayrshire & Arran extending the initial period of time for a local resident, Sean Manson, to open the new Monkton Pharmacy by a period of two months.
It leaves the 1100 or so villagers, yet again, without a dedicated community pharmacy within the village.
Now Monkton Community Council has taken the rare step of issuing a statement as the issue now heads to the courts.
In a statement Monkton CC said: “This is the third time appeals have been made to the courts objecting to various issues regarding the opening of a community pharmacy in Monkton, the initial one involving other pharmacies, but all involving Burns Pharmacy at the Toll, in Prestwick.
“There was an initial successful application by Mr Sean Manson for a community pharmacy heard at the Pharmacy Committee on November 2, 2021 and supported by Monkton Community Council. This was unsuccessfully appealed by Burns Pharmacy – and others.
“Following the unsuccessful appeal, Burns Pharmacy made another legal challenge by way of the Judicial Review process, which did not succeed.
“Not satisfied with this, they made a highly unusual further attempt petitioning for a second legal challenge by way of a second Judicial Review, citing a procedural issue which has still to be heard. The Judge suspended the opening until he or she was appraised of the full circumstances of the case.”
The statement goes on: “The people of the community of Monkton are only reassured that Mr Manson, a young man raised in the village, has continued to recognise the village’s dire need for such a facility.
“It has been a long term goal of his to use his professional expertise to meet the needs of the growing community in the village. He recognises the difference such a service will provide to a village sadly lacking in such local frontline services.
“In summary, a community pharmacy is more than simply a medicines supply service, and it is difficult to see how the wider range of services can adequately be delivered by pharmacies out with the neighbourhood.
“Residents in Monkton wish our entire community to have local access to the full range of services provided by community pharmacies. Over 90 per cent of the consultation carried out initially supported this.
“It is difficult to understand why a company such as Burns Pharmacies might wish to spend thousands of pounds in legal processes. They already are one of the largest prescribing independent Pharmacies in the West of Scotland, therefore it does not make good business sense to incur more expense for a minor procedural reasons which is unlikely to have a chance of success. They already have a ‘large slice of the cake.’
“This also incurs investment from NHS Ayrshire & Arran in order to defend this legal challenge. Investment which would be more needed at the frontline rather than in spurious legal processes which are not driven by need.”
The statement adds: “Modern Community Pharmacies are able to radiate a wide range of health services within their local area. This is particularly important in rural and village communities, like Monkton, where there is no GP Practice.
“Community Pharmacies provide a local a Minor Ailment Service, are vital to the prevention and early intervention agenda- and alleviate pressure on the NHS and GP practices.
“Older people and families with young children in particular find it challenging to make a return bus journey to Prestwick or further afield to seek health advice which should be available to them in their own community pharmacy.
“At many of the community council meetings we have heard many express those very concerns. Due to large scale development of new homes in Monkton in recent years, our population has increased greatly, with very many more families with young children.
“It is imperative that we now have access to a Community Pharmacy for Monkton. This is an approach to Public Health and Wellbeing that is supported by the Scottish Government and is a cornerstone of the strategic plan of NHS Ayrshire & Arran and South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership. “
And they warned: “That a young man who has already invested a good few years of his life trying to aid a local community and incurring significant, time, energy and expense, at the last post should fail, does not bear thinking about. The village of Monkton deserves a Community Pharmacy.”
Burns Pharmacy has been contacted for a response.
Craig McArthur, East Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership Director, said: “Due to the ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.”
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