By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Two Nottingham pharmacies are to merge their services into one site in the city.
Canning Ltd Chemists in Ilkeston Road is to merge with the Applegate Pharmacy in Alfreton Road, which is 0.2 miles away.
The two pharmacies will merge into the building used by Canning Ltd Chemists on Ilkeston Road.
The new consolidated pharmacy will be called Applegate Pharmacy and the current building used by Applegate Pharmacy on Alfreton Road will close.
The move was discussed at a Nottingham City Council Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on November 29.
Councillors heard there are 12 other pharmacies and four GP surgeries within a one mile radius of Applegate Pharmacy.
Some councillors raised questions over job cuts and whether patients would be automatically moved to a new pharmacy, but Applegate Pharmacy later told the Local Democracy Reporting Service jobs would be protected and patient prescriotions moved automatically.
The Integrated Care Board (ICB), which runs local healthcare services, will make a final decision on the plans.
Hannah Stovin, Senior Public Health Intelligence Manager, said: “There wouldn’t be a reduction in opening hours in that area due to the distance to other available pharmacies.
“All the NHS pharmaceutical services that are currently provided at both sites will still be provided at the consolidated site.
“There are frequent bus services within 50 metres of the proposed site and there is car parking nearby.
“The journey time of patients is increased by no more than two minutes by car and four minutes on foot for alternative pharmacies.
“The consolidated site has high levels of patient satisfaction on Google and the NHS website.”
Dr Husein Mawji, a member of the board and the Clinical Director for Nottingham City Place Based Partnership, said: “My concern is, will the patients with prescriptions registered at the site which will close, be moved to the second site, or will they be given the choice?”
Ms Stovin said: “That wasn’t discussed in the papers but we can send that through to the ICB for consideration around communication with patients.”
Cllr Linda Woodings (Lab) said: “I forwarded the paper to the councillors in the ‘losing’ area of Hyson Green and Arboretum.
“One of them did come back to me and say they had no issues with it.
“They didn’t flag any concerns about the move.
“Supporting people to move to a pharmacy which is the best choice for them is a really good point.
“It’s four minutes for normal walking but if you have mobility issues then four minutes is quite a way.”
Cllr Sam Lux (Lab) said: “Are we confident that this will not result in job losses?”
Ms Stovin said: “I can’t answer that I’m afraid.”
A spokesperson for Applegate Pharmacy told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There are plans for Applegate Pharmacy to expand by taking over Canning Pharmacy and minor relocating to their 61 Ilkeston Rd site, next to Radford Health Centre.
“All staff transferred under the deal will be protected under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment).
“Prescription patients can be reassured that as existing patients of both pharmacies, they will be automatically switched to the merged (consolidated) pharmacy by NHS Digital, so they will receive their medicines as usual.”
