THE pharmacy at Folkestone's Royal Victoria Hospital is to close. The four staff members affected have been told the decision by director of pharmacy at the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, Stephen Cook.

One was already planning a transfer to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford. The other three will be offered positions at other hospitals.

The move will save money - £70,000 a year - which includes a reduction in the need for expensive locum staff now some of the vacant posts, proving difficult to occupy with a shortage of pharmacists nationwide, are being filled by Royal Victoria staff.

Mr Cook told the Kentish Express the workload did not justify retaining the service, which will shut within the next three months, but he believes it will lead to a more efficient and safe service to patients who should not notice a difference.

A pharmacist will visit the Folkestone hospital's patients on the wards to review the medicines prescribed. Any extra supplies required would arrive by daily courier already running between the hospitals.

A survey conducted among people using the department showed 84 per cent would be happy to visit their own community chemists with their outpatient prescriptions.

And for patients who would not find it convenient, the trust is looking at keeping a small store of drugs for specific clinics at the site or posting prescriptions.