Finchley hospital pharmacy closure decision upheld
Barnet Council's health board confirms Fairview Pharmacy will not reopen after review.
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Barnet Council’s health and wellbeing board has confirmed that Fairview Pharmacy, located at Finchley Memorial Hospital, will not reopen. The decision was made at a meeting on 24 September 2026, following a review requested after the pharmacy closed earlier in September.
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The board had requested additional time to assess the impact of the closure, which had attracted public concern. However, an updated analysis did not alter the original reasoning for the closure, which was based on the 2025 Barnet Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). This assessment, completed every three years, examines pharmaceutical provision across the borough.
Dr Mohammed Jawad, deputy director of public health for the council, stated that while Fairview was a valued local facility, the reassessment did not change the fundamental decision. The closure reduces the total number of pharmacies in Barnet from 71 to 70. This change alters the ratio of pharmacies per 100,000 residents from 17.5 to 17.3.
Council analysis indicates that borough-wide access to pharmacies remains stable. All Barnet residents are still within a 15-minute driving distance of a pharmacy, according to the findings presented to the board. The review also considered factors such as user numbers, accessibility, opening hours, and nearby alternative provisions.
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Impact on local services
Dr Jawad acknowledged that the closure would have some detrimental effects. These include a reduction in weekend pharmacy access for residents in the immediate area and an impact on the continuity of Covid-19 vaccination services. These issues, he noted, should be addressed through commissioning discussions with the West and North London Integrated Care Board (WNL ICB).
However, the evidence gathered did not demonstrate a borough-wide gap in pharmaceutical provision that would justify reopening the pharmacy or revising the PNA. The decision was informed by further work with the WNL ICB to clarify the statutory process behind the closure and reassess potential impacts within the wider Barnet pharmaceutical network.
Next steps
The health and wellbeing board's decision means the closure of Fairview Pharmacy is permanent. Residents with concerns about local pharmacy access or specific services previously provided by Fairview are advised to discuss these with the WNL ICB.
Questions this report answers
+Why has Fairview Pharmacy in Finchley closed permanently?
Fairview Pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital closed earlier in September 2026. Barnet Council's health and wellbeing board reviewed the decision and confirmed on 24 September 2026 that it would not reopen, based on the 2025 Barnet Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.
+How many pharmacies are left in Barnet after the closure?
The closure of Fairview Pharmacy reduces the total number of pharmacies in the borough from 71 to 70. This changes the ratio of pharmacies per 100,000 residents from 17.5 to 17.3.
+Will residents have difficulty accessing a pharmacy?
According to council analysis, all Barnet residents remain within a 15-minute driving distance of a pharmacy. The overall borough-wide access to pharmaceutical services is considered to have remained broadly stable.
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