Date: 03 December 2009 BROCKLEBANK : ‘POLL HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTH OF OPPOSITION TO LEUCHARS PHARMACY PROPOSAL’ Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Ted Brocklebank, is pleased, but entirely unsurprised, that the level of opposition that he has seen on the doorsteps to a new pharmacy in Leuchars has been reflected in a recent poll.
An independent poll has found that only 22% of residents in Leuchars and Balmullo believe there is a need for an additional pharmacy.
Commenting, Mr Brocklebank said;
“I am entirely unsurprised that a recent poll has shown that nearly 80% of the residents in Leuchars and Balmullo do not wish to see a community pharmacy in Leuchars. The local community has been overwhelmingly against these proposals from the outset. With the strength of opposition now quantified and available for all to see, the National Appeals Panel must listen to the local community and reject the proposal when they make their decision on the application on the 15th of December.
“The local dispensing doctors in Leuchars and Balmullo provide an excellent service to the local community and it would be the height of folly if this service was compromised. With 60 per cent of the local GP’s remuneration coming from dispensing, a new pharmacy would undoubtedly undermine the existing medical provisions in the area. Such a threat from a new community pharmacy in Leuchars, which is neither wanted nor needed, is unacceptable.
“I recently raised this issue in the Parliament and was encouraged that the Government is looking at the regulations which currently prevent them from intervening in this application. However, I remain optimistic that the National Appeals Panel will listen to the calls of the local community and reject the plans for a new pharmacy at Leuchars.” | 
