Oldest Bucks pharmacy under threat

Disappointed Mr Ruparel, 55, said: "People see them advertising it in the surgery and they think it is us - they ask if we are changing our name or closing down. Customers are up in arms about it."
Many of his customers are patients at the surgery and last week received letters inviting them to sign up for the service - despite Mr Ruparel already offering a free delivery service.
A total of 450 users of the pharmacy have put their names forward in ten days of the petition being started and he intends to present it to the surgery next month.
Pharmacist Mr Ruparel, who has run the business for 12 years, said: "If we lose this business it is bad news for us.
"We don't want to upset the surgery, we just want a fair level playing field. As it is only a trial service, if we go where are people going to go if The Practice decide it is not financially viable? This village will have lost its facility."
He added: "Support from the public has been tremendous."
Dr Jeremy Rose, lead GP at The Practice's three surgeries, Lynton House and Hanover House in High Wycombe and The Practice Prospect House, said they began scheme to offer patients choice.
He said: "Our experience of looking after over ten thousand patients in these surgeries has made us aware of the need to offer patient's access to a comprehensive service which includes delivery of repeat medications to patients' homes and help for them to manage the ordering of their medicine.
"Some of our patients have difficulty in actually getting their medication. This group of patients includes the elderly, the housebound, those that live some distance away and don't drive, and also those who work and find it difficult to pick up a prescription during the working week."
He added: "In choosing a pharmacy partner for our pilot service we focused on selecting a pharmacy which had a track record of providing a full prescription management service, including delivery and an online capability. Both small local retail pharmacists as well as large nationwide chains were considered. We selected a pharmacy local to all three surgeries as we are mindful of the impact of our service in the local community and are keen to continue to establish relationships with the businesses there.
"Our primary concern is naturally to act in the best interests of our patients and ensure, employing the highest standard of care and support, that patients have a choice with regard to obtaining their medication. Signing up to our service is entirely voluntary; patients are free to choose which pharmacy they use and will not be treated any differently if they decide to use another pharmacy service."
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