Finchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy to close on 31 August
North West London Integrated Care Board says no further contract extensions were possible
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The pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital will close on 31 August 2026. The North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) confirmed it did not renew the contract with Fairview Pharmacy, which has operated on the site since 2013. The decision follows a review of local pharmacy provision, which identified nine alternative pharmacies within a one-mile radius of the hospital.
Why the contract could not be extended
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The ICB said the original contract was commissioned under a specific local arrangement, not the national NHS community pharmacy framework. This meant extensions were only possible if the ICB could demonstrate an exceptional need. Louise Coughlan, the ICB’s chief pharmacist, told the Barnet Post that no further options were available after the contract’s final extension.
Coughlan said the ICB had a responsibility to ensure public money was spent responsibly. She added that the nine alternative pharmacies had sufficient capacity and services to meet local demand. The ICB would welcome applications to open a new pharmacy on the hospital site through the standard community pharmacy process.
Local campaign to retain on-site service
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Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman has launched a campaign to protect pharmacy services at the hospital. In a letter to constituents, she wrote that the on-site pharmacy provided convenience for patients leaving the Urgent Care Centre and walk-in services. She argued that alternative pharmacies could not replicate the integration with hospital services.
“The ability to collect medication before leaving the hospital is an obvious benefit to patients, reduces delays to treatment and avoids unnecessary additional journeys. I struggle to understand how removing that service can possibly be considered an improvement in access to healthcare.”
Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green
Barnet Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board previously assessed that the closure would create a gap in local provision. Sackman said the alternative pharmacies listed on the closure notice were not a realistic substitute for many residents, particularly those who rely on immediate access to prescriptions after hospital visits.
What happens next
The Fairview Pharmacy will cease operations at the end of August. The ICB has invited applications for a new pharmacy on the hospital site, but no timeline has been set for a decision. Residents can submit views to the ICB or support Sackman’s campaign, which aims to pressure the health body to reconsider its position.
Questions this report answers
+Why is the pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital closing?
The North West London Integrated Care Board did not renew the contract with Fairview Pharmacy. The original contract, commissioned in 2013, was not part of the national NHS framework, so extensions were only possible with proof of exceptional need, which the ICB could not provide.
+Are there other pharmacies nearby?
Yes, the ICB identified nine alternative pharmacies within a one-mile radius of Finchley Memorial Hospital. It says these have sufficient capacity to meet local demand, though local MP Sarah Sackman argues they do not replicate the hospital’s integrated service.
+What can residents do about the closure?
Residents can contact the North West London Integrated Care Board to express concerns or support Sarah Sackman’s campaign to retain on-site pharmacy services. The ICB has also invited applications to open a new pharmacy on the hospital site through the standard process.
+When will the pharmacy close?
The Fairview Pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital will close on 31 August 2026. The ICB has said no further extensions to the contract were possible, and the service will cease on that date.
Barnet Press News Desk
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