Closure of chemists will be 'a disaster'

Boots is closing one branch in Exeter and one in Plymouth

The planned closure of Boots stores in Devon will be "a disaster", supporters of the businesses have said.

Boots is closing one branch in Exeter and one in Plymouth.

Critics said such closures could affect patients who had travelling difficulties or mobility issues.

Boots said the plans were part of efforts to consolidate its business and no redundancies were planned.

Closures 'accelerating'

One patient of the store in Exeter, Andrew, who did not want to use his surname, told the BBC: "I have mobility issues. My dad, who's 98 years old, has severe disability issues.

"To close that pharmacy would be a disaster for us."

Closures were a problem across the country, according to the organisation Community Pharmacy England, which is the representative body for pharmacy owners in England.

Its chief executive, Janet Morrison, said: "This is a trend that we have seen over the last seven years. Over 1,000 have closed and that process seems to be accelerating.

"That is really a result of a crushing funding environment for the sector, seeing a 30% cut in real terms from their NHS funding, and they can't really sustain their businesses."

Boots said it did not comment on individual closures but that the shutting of branches was part of efforts to consolidate its business by closing 300 stores across the UK.

The government said it was monitoring access to pharmaceutical services and it had announced almost £650m of additional funding for the sector, on top of the £2.6bn it provided every year.

It added that it had also provided thousands more training places for pharmacists.