Boots has closed its pharmacy on the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus, leaving students in need of medication without a nearby option. This closure is part of a series of closures occurring across the country as Boots reevaluates its branch locations. As a result, students are now required to travel into the city to access medication, creating an inconvenience for those on campus. In response to the closure, a campaign called ‘Save the UEA Campus Pharmacy’ has been launched by the UEA’s Students’ Union, with hundreds of students signing a petition in support of keeping a pharmacy on campus. The campaign aims to find an organization to operate a facility in place of the national chain.
Nathan Wyatt, the SU’s welfare, community, and diversity officer, emphasized the importance of enabling students to access necessary medicine and prescriptions, especially during a time when NHS resources are strained. Prior to the closures, UEA students had three pharmacies within walking distance, but now they are left with only the option to take a 30-minute bus into the city. The closure of another Boots branch near the campus further compounds the issue, prompting Norwich South MP Clive Lewis to advocate for student struggles in accessing health services. The union’s petition, initiated a week ago, has already garnered over 350 signatures, demonstrating the widespread concern among UEA students regarding the lack of accessible pharmacy services.
The closure of Boots’ pharmacy at UEA has left students without a nearby option for obtaining medication, necessitating a trip into the city. In response, the UEA’s Students’ Union has launched the ‘Save the UEA Campus Pharmacy’ campaign to advocate for the establishment of a replacement facility on the campus. The closure has caused inconvenience and potential hardship for students, particularly those without access to transportation. Norwich South MP Clive Lewis is also working to highlight the challenges students face in accessing health services as a result of the closure. The petition initiated by the union has gained considerable support, with over 350 signatures collected in a short amount of time.
