Hundreds sign petition amid fears village pharmacy could close

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The petition was presented to parliament by MP Mark Pawsey



A community is urging NHS England and the government to take action over fears that a pharmacy in Binley Woods could close.

MW Phillips Chemist, also known as Dhaliwal Pharmacy, has previously had a Local Pharmaceutical Service (LPS) contract - which means it receives funding to stay open because the services it provides meet the needs of the surrounding community.

However, that contract expired at the end of March and it has now been given six months notice to 'terminate' its services.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition urging a rethink over the issue and MP Mark Pawsey – who grew up in the village – has also signalled his support.

He presented the petition to parliament yesterday, Wednesday, December 2.

A spokesman for NHS England and NHS Improvement – Midlands said that the LPS contract expired in March 2020 and the pharmacy is currently on six months’ notice to terminate.

That ends on December 31.

In September, the pharmacy applied to extend the contract, but the spokesman said this “did not provide evidence of specific needs in the local population to provide the additional services that we would expect to see under an LPS contract”.

NHS England has pledged to monitor the provision of pharmacy services in the area to ensure it meets the needs of the community.

A petition on Change.org started by the pharmacy said that the service is “an essential part of our community” and that, without NHS funding, it is at risk of closure.

As of this morning, 500 people had signed the petition.

Mr Pawsey, MP for Rugby and the surrounding area, presented this petition and another at parliament yesterday.

The two petitions have together been signed by 849 people.