Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured the sector that his government would do everything it can to support community pharmacies when he was asked if he would ‘take urgent action to prevent pharmacy closure’.
At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in Parliament held on Wednesday (26 April) he responded: “We will continue to do everything we can to support community pharmacies.”
Labour MP for Knowsley and All-Party Pharmacy Group member, George Howarth, said: “Given the chronic lack of capacity in the NHS, the Prime Minister will be aware that community pharmacy can help deal with minor illnesses. But there is a problem on average 10 Pharmacy close every month in England.”
Prime Minister was further asked “will he take urgent action to prevent further closing and commission a properly funded ‘Pharmacy First’ service for minor illnesses?”
Sunak replied: “I’ve been a wholehearted champion and believer in the role that community pharmacists can play. We want to make sure that they can do everything to ease some of the pressures in primary care.
“We are actively talking to sector and we will continue to do everything we can to support community pharmacy.
I know first hand how respected they are in their communities, and I think they can do more for us over time.”
