Do you have easy access to a local pharmacy? Does it provide the services you need? Do the opening hours suit you?

Midsomer Norton Nub News has been repeatedly told of problems with Lloyds St Chads pharmacy. One reader contacted us saying that it is typical to find 20 people waiting and the queues have been constant for the last few weeks. The reader added: " I have been told a gentleman waited two hours only to be told his prescription was unavailable. What a mess."

Now you can have your say.

Residents across Bath and North East Somerset are being asked to give their views on a new draft report which assesses whether the district has enough pharmacies, whether they provide the right services for local people now and whether they will be able to meet the health needs of the growing population in the future.

Having gathered information from various sources, including statistics and reports, the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment report considers the overall health of the district's population and the needs of those with specific conditions and diseases.

The report concludes that there are no gaps in provision across B&NES and there are sufficient pharmacies to cater for current needs and the expected population increase over the next three years.

However, to ensure the document accurately reflects people's experience of pharmaceutical provision the council is asking for feedback. 

The public consultation HERE will run from Monday 6 June until Saturday 6 August.

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, and Communities said: "In 2018 the Office of National Statistics predicted our population would grow by almost sixteen thousand by 2028, with the biggest increase in those aged between 75 and 84. As the population grows, we need to make sure pharmacies are able to meet peoples' needs.

"Have we got the right services and community facilities in areas where there's new housing? Are our rural communities well served?

"Your views really do matter as they will help us to develop services with the NHS."

Across the Bath and North East Somerset there are currently 36 community pharmacies and one distance selling pharmacy, equating to 18 pharmacies per 100,000 people. In addition, there are five Dispensing General Practices serving rural areas.

The opening hours of the pharmacies range from seven days a week to those that are only open on weekdays. Five of the pharmacies open beyond 6pm, and one pharmacy is open for 100 hours each week.