Patients face long journeys for medicines as pharmacies cut weekend hours
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A growing number of pharmacies in England have reduced or eliminated weekend hours since 2022 due to budget pressures, impacting patients' access to medication. The National Pharmacy Association reports that over 20% of weekend pharmacy hours have been lost, forcing some individuals to travel long distances, visit A&E, or urgent care centers for prescriptions and advice. Rural areas like Devon, Cornwall, and the Lake District are particularly affected, though cities like Manchester and Leeds have also seen reductions. Patient groups express concern that these closures disproportionately affect disabled individuals, shift workers, and those without transportation. The closures are attributed to "unsustainable" budget pressures.
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