Health minister Tom Binet has been asked what he can do to help people affected by Roseville Pharmacy reducing its opening hours.
The pharmacy, which currently opens late and at weekends, said it would be reducing its opening hours from Monday due to financial and staffing challenges. Deputy Louise Doublet has asked Binet to explain what talks he had with the company and the effect of changes to the "crucial service".
She also wants to know what support the department could give to the business to help it to stay open and if the hospital pharmacy could stay open for longer instead. The new opening hours will be 08:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 16:00 on weekends and bank holidays, said the pharmacy. Doublet, chair of the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, said: "We are concerned about the potential impact this will have on the community, especially for individuals who rely on access to medication and pharmaceutical services outside of standard business hours.
"The extended hours provided by this pharmacy have long been a valuable and crucial service, particularly for the elderly, those with chronic conditions, families with young children and individuals who are unable to visit during regular working hours or who require urgent access to medication during the evenings or weekends."