News Release from City of York Council Labour Group – Immediate Release: 4th March, 2024

New hope for pharmacy services in Clifton

York’s independent pharmacy group, Citywide Health, has answered a call for help from local Councillors and is making plans to open a new pharmacy in Clifton, following the recent closure of Boots pharmacy at Clifton Green.

Citywide Health opened its first pharmacy in Haxby in 2010 and has grown into a group of 7 pharmacies located around York, dispensing over 25% of prescriptions issued in the city. The closure of Lloyds on Intake Avenue, and now Boots on Clifton Green, means residents of Clifton are without a pharmacy and face a minimum round trip of over 2 miles to their nearest community pharmacy.

Citywide Health’s director, Richard Harrison says:

“It’s not acceptable to expect elderly or disabled patients to make long journeys to see a pharmacist or collect their medication. Some patients are really going to struggle and a lack of provision in Clifton risks creating serious health inequalities in the ward”.

Funding to operate community pharmacies was frozen by the Government in 2015, whilst operating costs have risen by 40%, leading to the closure of over 1,800 community pharmacies. Whilst Boots didn’t see a future in Clifton, Mr Harrison believes Citywide Health can survive:

“The launch of the new Pharmacy First service means patients can access treatments such as antibiotics for sinusitis or urinary tract infections (UTIs) without needing to visit their GP. This service is proving to be really popular at our pharmacies, and over 150 patients have accessed this same day service so far this month. It’s a win-win situation; patients get quick access to treatment, and it reduces GP waiting lists”.

Coupled with a hypertension testing and a contraception supply service, Citywide Health has helped save 15 days of GP time so far already this year.

Clifton Ward Councillors, Danny Myers and Margaret Wells, launched a local petition to highlight the need for a local pharmacy in Clifton, following the announcement of Boots’ closure.

Cllr Danny Myers says:

“Government cuts to community pharmacy funding over the last decade is putting residents’ health and lives at risk. The NHS requires evidence that there’s a local demand for a new pharmacy, so we’re asking everyone to sign our petition to support the application. Whilst there will be immediate and obvious benefits to local residents, a new pharmacy in Clifton will have health benefits for the whole of York by helping reduce GP waiting times. Both Priory and York Medical Groups have surgeries in Clifton and there are fears that without a local pharmacy, the extra pressure on those surgeries would have a knock-on effect elsewhere in the city.”

Cllr Margaret Wells added:

“It’s great to see that we’ve a local pharmacist willing to fill the gap left by the exit of a multi-national chain. We’re excited to be working with Richard and his team and are optimistic this will lead to the return of pharmacy services being available for Clifton residents once again”.

-ENDS-

Cllr Danny Myers – Tel: 07419 209929

Cllr Margaret Wells – Tel: 07531 344194

Notes to editors:

The petition calling for the return of pharmacy services in Clifton is still available to sign at: www.change.org/cliftonpetition