Viva Lewes Issue #124 January 2017

DIRECTORY
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Directory Spotlight:
Debbie Baker of St Anne's Pharmacy
Karen Smillie and I opened this
place in July 2005. There was
about a year of preparation; you
have to prove why your pharmacy is
necessary and desirable in a particular
location.
Local independent pharmacies
provide a personalised service. If
we know you and your medical needs,
you don't have to go through a whole explanation
each time you visit.
Every pharmacy receives some government
funding to help cover their overheads. The
Department of Health wants to save money but,
instead of looking at performance and local competition,
they've simply announced a 12% funding
cut for everyone.
One in three pharmacies is expected to close.
Over two million people signed a petition asking
the government to reconsider; there was a debate
in parliament but they went ahead
with the original plan from the 1st of
December 2016.
The General Pharmaceutical Council
inspects all pharmacies every
three years. We got a 'good' grading,
which puts us in the top 10%, so we
were over the moon with that.
Pharmacies generally hold around
£20,000 of prescription stock. We buy all the
drugs ourselves. We only get paid when patients
bring us a prescription.
If you have any questions about your prescription,
just ask the pharmacist who's dispensing
it. We're always happy to offer advice about any
medicine we're supplying. Sadly we don't get paid
for helping people with prescriptions they've
picked up from the supermarket.
Interview by Mark Bridge
50 Western Road, Lewes / 01273 474645
86