Carstairs pharmacy health saga could finally be settled

The possibility of the Scottish Public Health Minister Michael Matheson being called in to help solve the dispute arose on Monday after a meeting between worried villagers, health officials and Clydesdale MSP Aileen Campbell.

As reported, many villagers were left angry and frustrated when NHS Lanarkshire allowed a private pharmacy to open in Carstairs, putting the long-established and popular village GP dispensary at risk.

They took their grievance to Holyrood and then to NHS Lanarkshire headquarters, demonstrating at both, the result being a `summit’ meeting between county health officials and villagers, hosted by the MSP at her Carluke constituency office on Monday afternoon.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.