MP Warns of Threats to local Chemists

12.00.00am GMT Mon 3rd Mar 2003

MP Vincent Cable has written to local chemists in Twickenham, St. Margarets, Whitton, Teddington, Hampton, Hampton Hill and Hampton Wick warning that a new ruling by OFT (the Office of Fair Trading), that supermarkets should be free to compete with pharmacy services, could destroy the local network of chemists:

"We have just under 20 chemists on this side of the borough plus Boots. They will soon have to compete with supermarkets offering pharmacy services, as the Tesco store in Mogden Lane already does. "

"The problem is that, while competition is usually a good thing, in this case it could put community chemists who provide advice and help beyond the purely commercial aspects, out of business. "

"Also many sick and elderly people could find themselves having to make difficult journeys to get their prescriptions. I and other MPs are pressing Ministers to disregard the OFT advice".