The NHS has confirmed its decision to deprive a village of a much-needed pharmacy, a decision roundly condemned as a farce and "a sad day for the elderly population of Ashtead".

Lloyds pharmacy, the only chemist in Ashtead Village, closed down in February, forcing patients to travel to other dispensaries in Craddocks Parade and Barnett Wood Lane for their medicines.

An application to open a new pharmacy in exactly the same spot in The Street by Abdool Kureeman, owner of Ashtead’s Buckley Pharmacy, was refused by the NHS in June and an appeal against this decision was refused on October 8 by the NHS Litigation Authority - outraging residents, councillors and MP Chris Grayling.

It did not find another pharmacy would be "necessary or expedient" - a decision which has prompted Mr Grayling to contact Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to review how Mr Kureeman’s application was handled.

Mr Kureeman said he was saddened by the decision which he feels is a "blow for the independent pharmacy community" and contrary to the Government’s desires for a reformed NHS with an emphasis on patient-centred care.

The 52-year-old said: "There’s no logic in this farcical decision.

"The litigation authority stuck to what was said by NHS Surrey and decided that what the residents told them in their letters was wrong. Doctors’ practices also wrote in saying people would have difficulties in accessing pharmacies.

"It’s a sad day for the elderly people of Ashtead Village as their voice has not been heard.

"The Government’s White Paper on NHS reform clearly states ‘no decision about me without me’ and when local commissioning comes in they will be looking for more proactive pharmacies to advise patients about healthcare.

"You can’t just take away a pharmacy because you can fulfil the prescription of medicines elsewhere.

"It’s about healthy living - it’s good for elderly people to be independent, chat with their pharmacist, seek advice and then be referred to the GP if needed.

"Why is it not needed?"

The pharmacist of 15 years said it was the "end of the road" as judicial review of the decision would be a long and costly process.

Mr Grayling said: "I'm very concerned the regulations governing issues like this have not been properly applied in this case, which would see the re-opening of a closed pharmacy rather than the establishment of a new one. I will be pressing the Department of Health very hard on this."

Jane Ward, community pharmacy development pharmacist, at NHS Surrey said: "The NHS litigation authority has considered the appeal, and supporting evidence including letters from local people, and in their view, the proposed pharmacy was ‘neither necessary nor expedient to secure the adequate provision of services in the neighbourhood’.

"We know there was some support locally for a new pharmacy and we understand those supporting the application will be disappointed."

Ashtead county councillor Chris Townsend said he wants the initial decision of NHS Surrey to be called-in for scrutiny by Surrey County Council.

He said: "It’s exasperating and poor. Abdool has been stopped by faceless bureaucrats - what does a panel sitting in Leeds know about Ashtead?"

Gillian Russell, member of campaigning group Save Ashtead’s Village Environment (SAVE) added: "We feel this is an outrageous decision and will support Abdool in every way we can to get this decision reversed."