Watch my question urging the Government to introduce rural exceptions to pharmacy funding

When I speak with pharmacy owners in South Devon, a consistent, concerning message emerges: the current funding model is failing rural areas. It’s clear this system was designed with urban centres in mind. This pattern is all too familiar, with rural services repeatedly struggling under systems that overlooked their specific challenges.

Today, I raised this with the Health Minister and asked if the Government was considering introducing rural exceptions or an adjusted funding threshold to the existing pharmacy funding model.

The closure of a small-town pharmacy has serious ramifications. Accessing essential advice and medication becomes incredibly difficult, given the already poor state of rural transport. The outcry over Leatside Pharmacy's closure in Totnes clearly demonstrates the depth of this issue.

Rural Britain already grapples with dental deserts. My concern is that unless exceptions to the funding model are quickly introduced, pharmacy deserts may also become an unfortunate reality.