Parliamentarians urge Wes Streeting to support community pharmacies

"With the right support and funding, community pharmacies can play a crucial role in fixing our broken NHS"- says Labour MP Peter Dowd

A group of 20 parliamentarians has written to health secretary Wes Streeting MP, calling for urgent government action to address the growing financial crisis facing community pharmacies.

In the cross-party letter, supported by Community Pharmacy England (CPE), the MPs warned of a real risk of more pharmacy closures, with one in six pharmacy owners saying that they are unsure if their pharmacy will survive the year.

They have urged the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) to prioritise long-term planning for pharmacies, including the implementation of the Community Pharmacist Prescribing Service.

The MPs have also highlighted the need for more effective marketing for Pharmacy First to increase both walk-ins and referrals to this critical service.

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison welcomed the support of 20 cross-party parliamentarians and recognising the vital role pharmacies play in the local community.

She stressed the urgent need for immediate government intervention to ensure the survival of the sector and to maximise its potential in providing accessible care.

Janet said: “Right now community pharmacy is on the verge of a house of cards style collapse, but it has so much to offer if it is put on a sustainable footing.

“We are ready to take forward discussions on the future: pharmacy needs answers on the contractual framework for this year and to be in a position to plan for the future.”

The letter, which was sent ahead of the Autumn Budget, was coordinated by Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle, after a briefing event for MPs and peers at an event in Parliament hosted by CPE.

Dowd said: “Community pharmacies are a fantastic resource that we simply cannot afford to lose. They are a lifeline for people across the country, providing essential services and taking pressure off GPs and hospitals.”

He added that, with the right support and funding, community pharmacies can play a crucial role in fixing the “broken NHS” by offering convenient and accessible local healthcare.

CPE highlighted that many community pharmacies are struggling to stay afloat due to spiraling costs and a 30 per cent real-term funding cut since 2015.

It pointed out that two-thirds of pharmacies are operating at a loss, with a myriad of operational pressures.

As a result, patients are facing longer prescription dispensing times and delays in responding to their inquiries, reducing access to vital community healthcare services.