'Difficulty' for patients amid 'pharmacy deserts'

Residents are finding it "increasingly difficult" to access a pharmacy, according to a borough councillor.

Sophie Forester, from Bracknell Forest Council, has asked fellow councillors to encourage the Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) to open more pharmacies in the area.

She highlighted research by the National Pharmacy Association, which found Bracknell Forest to have one of the lowest numbers of pharmacies per 100,000 patients.

An assessment will begin this month to identify whether there is a shortage in the area.

Ms Forester said she would "definitely" lobby for more provision.

“The message we are receiving as councillors from residents on the ground is that access to pharmaceutical provision is increasingly difficult,” she said.

A previous pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA), has found the borough is "well served", with 18 pharmacies across Bracknell Forest and a further 14 within a mile radius.

The new PNA is expected to take about six months to complete.

It will then be presented to Bracknell Forest Council’s health and wellbeing board before it is sent to NHS England.

Bracknell Forest’s population has risen by 10% since 2011, with many local residents arguing that housebuilding has not been met with provision of extra services, like pharmacies and GP surgeries.

The National Pharmacy Association found Bracknell had the fourth lowest number of pharmacies per 100,000 people.

West Berkshire has the lowest provision of pharmacies in the country, while neighbouring Wokingham ranked second lowest.

The association warned that rural areas were becoming "pharmacy deserts", with people having to travel further for vital medication and advice.

It said pharmacies were "on the brink because of a decade of real-term cuts, creating a material threat to the security of medicine supply in some areas if closures continue".

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.