A Bromley woman has started a petition to “save more lives” in the hope of opening her pharmacy in Thamesmead – after NHS England rejected two applications.

Chandra Patel, 59, owner of two Brownes Chemist stores in Abbey Wood, wants to add a third in Yarnton Way but has had two applications for a contract knocked back.

Mrs Patel did own a pharmacy in Tavy Bridge, Thamesmead, but it was closed down in 2012 after buildings were demolished.

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Chandra (far right) and other campaigners outside the Thamesmead pharmacy

However, due to high demand from residents and customers to open one again in the area, she has a store ready to go and just needs a contract from NHS England to sell prescription medication.

After being rejected twice in the past two years, Mrs Patel started a petition and has received hundreds of signatures so far.

Mrs Patel told News Shopper: “We received over 700 signatures from people in just a couple of days. It was sent around schools and in the local Thamesmead community.

“We would be able to save more lives if people were able to walk to our shop and get the prescriptions they need.

“People won’t be able to buy from us at our shop - they’ll have to take a bus to the nearest other pharmacy.

“It is so much trouble for the residents because they’ll have to pay money for the bus to get to the nearest pharmacy. It’s not fair on them.

“We’re hoping the petition signatures will help the NHS realise that we need a pharmacy in Thamesmead.”

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The land where another pharmacy is expected to be built in the next six months in Thamesmead​ after receiving an NHS England contract

Mrs Patel and her husband Ramesh, 65, who is a chemist at the two stores, have been running pharmacies for 40 years.

She claims thousands of residents are urging NHS England to give a contract to the Thamesmead shop.

In the absence of a pharmacy, the married couple have delved into their own pockets to pay drivers to deliver prescriptions to homes.

Mrs Patel said: “We still try and help the community by doing the deliveries but it’s coming out of our pocket – we make over 100 deliveries in Thamesmead.

“We have three people helping out with the petition and we haven’t even put it online – we’ve been around schools and in the community getting people to sign.”

Here’s what a resident had to say about the situation:

Diana Marsh, 65, of Aspen Green, Erith, states it is “very difficult” for her to travel to the nearest Pharmacy in Abbey Wood.

She added: “I have to get a bus all the way down to Abbey Wood Village and walk down and up 35 steps – it’s very difficult for me and doesn’t help.

“Also, if you wait for a bus, it can take up to half an hour to come.

“You can’t even drive there because there is nowhere to park."

A spokesman for NHS England said: “We are not able to comment on an application while the appeal period is ongoing.”