A tragedy through lack of chemists

As the campaign continues for a third pharmacy in Totnes, the Pulse has been sent this distressing letter backing up the efforts of Leatside patients’ group.

We have been allowed to publish this anonymously. It is yet another example of the anxiety and hardship people are experiencing trying to get vital medicines.

The letter reads:

“I fully support a new pharmacy at Leatside surgery. My recent experience of the failures of the existing pharmacies in Totnes were very stressful.

My husband was dying of cancer and in the last days of his life he was prescribed morphine and a sedative to be picked up at Well pharmacy on Friday May 9. They couldn’t fulfil the prescription and sent it on to Morrisons pharmacy for Saturday morning.

I was then told that they couldn’t do this either so the closest pharmacy was in Paignton where I had to drive on Saturday afternoon, not knowing at the time my husband would die later that day. It was not what I wanted to be doing and was a clear indication of the inadequacies of the current pharmacies in Totnes.

Even then, the Paignton pharmacy could only fulfil half the required prescription but I took what they had as my husband was in distress on the last day of his life.”

As reported here (see stories) the campaign is trying to overturn an NHS decision to revoke plans for a third pharmacy (to replace Boots) – despite the Devon commissioning overseers agreeing to it.

If you want to join in, you can email d-icb.patientexperience@nhs.net before August 10, when consultation on Devon’s future needs for pharmacies is due to end.