Councillors have slammed a “shocking” decision which they say has stopped a new pharmacy from being given the go-ahead to open in a York suburb until at least next year.

They called for a new pharmacy to open in Clifton, following the closure of two in the area which means it has become a “pharmacy desert”, according to ward councillor Danny Myers.

He told a full council meeting on Thursday (September 19) that Clifton residents face a “three mile walk round trip when they need health services”.

But the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) said a new pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) – identifying what pharmaceutical services are currently available and where more are likely to be needed – must be prepared before the issue can be considered.

These assessments are done every three years – in York the most recent was in 2022, meaning the next will be in 2025.

Cllr Danny Myers, Clifton ward councillorCllr Danny Myers, Clifton ward councillor (Image: Supplied) Given this, the councillors say Clifton residents must wait until next year to learn if a new pharmacy will be built in the area.

City of York Council’s health scrutiny committee has considered the need for a community pharmacy and the technical process for approving new provision, a York Labour spokesperson said.

But, they explained, there is now confusion around the process for identifying pharmacy need. 

“The council’s public health remit requires it to provide a supplementary statement on pharmacy need, such as in the Clifton example where a closure happens,” they said.

“However, the ICB stated at the recent scrutiny committee this supplementary statement, and the views of the city’s health and wellbeing board, carry no weight and will be ignored.”

'I don’t accept there is no wiggle-room to make a decision that improves health and public services in my community,' says ward councillor

Cllr Myers, also a member of the council’s health scrutiny committee, slammed the ICB’s decision, saying: “The NHS ICB’s decision making is not fit for purpose.

“We learned it will not grant new applications for pharmacies until a costly and time consuming full city-wide PNA is written, once the current one expires after its three-year lifespan in 2025.

“This is ridiculous and will be taken up immediately with the new government minister Stephen Kinnock MP.

“I don’t accept there is no wiggle-room to make a decision that improves health and public services in my community.”

During the meeting, Cllr Myers described the decision as “shocking”, adding: “Clifton is the second most deprived ward in York, with some neighbourhoods ranked in the top 10 per cent most deprived in the country.

“The needs assessment shows Clifton is now a pharmacy desert and the council’s view is a gap in provision exists in the Clifton area.”

He said that three applications to open a pharmacy in Clifton had been rejected.

“I am calling on applicants to consider appealing and will seek the support of the council, MPs and the Secretary of State to urgently review and step in to take a decision to restore services in Clifton,” Cllr Myers added.

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Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, the Labour council’s executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “I don’t accept that pharmacies can close and can’t be replaced until years have passed before a new pharmacy needs assessment has been completed.

“I’m concerned about the impact of this ongoing gap in Clifton, particularly given levels of deprivation locally and the current pressure on GP waiting times.

“Pharmacies are supposed to be taking pressure off GPs. 

“The much higher concentration of pharmacies elsewhere in the city compared to Clifton suggests there is a problem, and I will be raising it with health sector colleagues at the earliest opportunity.”

A NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board spokesperson said: “The ICB welcomes all new pharmacy applications. We have a fair, transparent, and consistent approach to evaluating each application, ensuring they align with our local pharmaceutical needs assessment and adhere to the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013.

"We have a guidance document to support contractors in their applications and help them to demonstrate their ability to meet the regulations relevant to their application. If a contractor’s application is not supported, feedback is provided through the decision process, and we have a robust appeals process in place.”

Clifton councillors have been petitioning for a new pharmacy in their ward. Cllr Myers presented this petition to Thursday’s full council meeting with 650 signatures.