Pharmacies should be included in the support offered to other NHS services in light of the rise in employer national insurance contributions (NICs)
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned of potential pharmacy closures in the coming months if long-standing funding cuts are not addressed and pharmacies are not supported with the National Insurance rise.
With Downing Street suggesting that GP surgeries may receive extra support to offset the increase in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) later this year, NPA chief executive Paul Rees has called on the government to extend similar support to pharmacies.
A No 10 spokeswoman clarified that contracted workers, including GPs, were not eligible for an exemption from the NICs hike, which she said was consistent with the approach of previous governments.
“There is a general process whereby departments, the Department of Health, for example, confirm their funding for general practices,” the spokeswoman said, noting this process would occur later in the year.
In response, Paul said that it would be “an insult” if GPs were provided support for the National Insurance rise but not hard-working pharmacies, who have faced nearly a decade of cuts in funding and are shutting at record rates.
“Around 95 per cent of the work of an average pharmacy is spent delivering vital NHS services and they should be included in the support offered to other NHS services.
“It is imperative the government’s settlement for pharmacies this year halts the real terms cuts that have dogged pharmacies for years and covers increased National Insurance and National Living Wage bills, or we will face more pharmacies shutting in the months to come,” he added.
The No 10 spokeswoman also mentioned new grant funding aimed at addressing pressures in the social care sector.
“We are taking action to support the social care sector more generally,” she said
“There is a real-terms increase in core local government spending power and I think at least £600 million of new grant funding provided to address pressures in the sector,” she added.
