A new pharmacy is set to open in South West London after facing delays that left residents without access to essential services for a year. The closure of Boots pharmacies on Tangley Park Road and Priory Road last year left elderly residents in Hampton North feeling frustrated and inconvenienced. As a result, residents had to travel longer distances or depend on others to pick up their prescriptions.
The closure of these pharmacies had a significant impact on the community, with residents describing the area as feeling like a ‘ghost town’. To access pharmacy services, residents were required to walk to pharmacies located a considerable distance away. This situation prompted a campaign led by Twickenham MP Munira Wilson, Healthwatch Richmond, and local councillors to address the gap in services.
After a year of campaigning, it has been confirmed that a new pharmacy will open in the vacant unit on Tangley Park Road. This news has been welcomed by local residents, who have been advocating for better access to pharmacy services. Twickenham MP Munira Wilson expressed relief that residents will finally have the services they need close to home.
Healthwatch Richmond’s chief officer, Mike Derry, also expressed delight at the news, stating that over 700 residents had voiced their concerns about the lack of pharmacy services in Hampton. While it will take some time for the new pharmacy to open, residents are hopeful that this development will address the challenges they have faced.
Residents have shared their experiences of the impact of the pharmacy closures, highlighting the difficulties they have encountered in accessing essential medication. The delays in approving the new pharmacy application have been criticized as ‘unacceptable’ by community members and officials alike.
Moving forward, there is a call to streamline the process for approving pharmacy applications to prevent similar delays from occurring in the future. Lessons must be learned from this experience to ensure that residents in other areas do not face similar challenges when seeking access to vital services.
Overall, the opening of a new pharmacy in Hampton North is a significant development that will greatly benefit the community. Residents can look forward to having convenient access to essential medication and pharmacy services closer to home.
