Bosses of a medical practice undergoing a £280,000 revamp fear the loss of its newly-extended dispensary could lead to job cuts.
A Government proposal could result in the loss of a ‘vital’ service in the district, according to North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson.
Mr Paterson said the White Paper, planned to go out for consultation in the next couple of months, could see a number of medical dispensaries based in doctors’ surgeries forced to close.
The paper – Pharmacy in England: Building on Strengths, Delivering the Future – recommends the Government allows dispensing practices to sell over-the-counter medicines.
But it also proposes changing distance requirements for the dispensing practices. This could see residents travelling further to collect their prescriptions.
Ed Manning, Ellesmere Medical Practice manager, also fears if the White Paper is accepted many jobs would be lost at the practice.
He added that the practice’s current building project includes enlarging the dispensary to cope with their 2,000 patients. Mr Manning said: “The whole thing is outrageous.”
Mr Paterson said he had received eight letters so far from residents in villages including Cockshutt, Dudleston Heath and Shawbury expressing concerns over transport problems, the loss of same day prescriptions and changing opening times.
The MP said the paper could result in the loss of ‘vital services in rural communities’.
“This White Paper shows that after 11 years the Labour Government still has absolutely no idea about how to deliver public services in rural areas,” he said.
He added he had written to the Secretary of State, Alan Johnson, this week on the issue.
A date is yet to be set for the White Paper to be decided upon and practices are calling on patients to write to their MP.
A spokesperson for the PCT was unable to comment as the Chronicle went to press.
