PSNC asks pharmacies to engage MPs on funding crisis

PSNC has urged community pharmacy contractors and LPCs to engage with their local MPs on the immense pressures that pharmacies are facing.

The organisaiton has also published some new resources to help pharmacists in this regard.

“PSNC is deeply aware of the funding crisis affecting the sector and is working hard to increase the pressure on [the] government to act now with an urgent funding uplift. This has included upping investment in influencing activities and working closely with LPCs to take united action,” it said.

PSNC has last month launched its Four Point Plan to safeguard the future of community pharmacy, setting out how pharmacy could be the solution to a number of problems if, and only if, it is properly funded, resourced and supported.

As pressures continue to mount, further briefings now focus solely on the urgent need to resolve the funding squeeze in order to protect existing pharmacy services.

“To support this campaigning work, we are now also urging contractors to contact their local MP to outline the severity of the funding pressures and the impact it will have on patients if it continues. Contractors should ask MPs to take up the cause with Ministers,” PSNC said.

“I can see how difficult things are for pharmacy owners and for their staff and how frustrating it is to have been put in this situation by deliberate government and NHS decisions to squeeze the sector dry. It is unacceptable for these pressures to continue – what’s not good for pharmacies, is not good for patients or the wider NHS,” Janet Morrison, PSNC chief executive, said.

“The Government needs to hear this message loudly and clearly – if the squeeze continues the consequences will be dire. We are telling them this at a national level, but the more MPs who now also hear this message from their constituents, the better.”

Zoe Long, PSNC director of communications and public affairs. Added: “Whilst we and the LPCs are working hard to brief MPs from across the political spectrum on the current pharmacy pressures and risks to patients, these messages land all the more strongly if they are amplified with real-life stories, data and experiences from contractors. We have seen in the past that personal contact from constituents can help to encourage very strong advocacy from MPs, and that is what these resources are designed to help with.”