Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth has criticised the government’s response to the plight of community pharmacists as frontline workers during the current Covid-19 pandemic and their struggle for survival to remain viable.
The Conservative Party peer on Monday (July 20) made his comments during a debate in which junior minister Lord James Nicholas Bethell said that the Department of Health has injected cash into the sector, including a £370m advance funding, to ensure healthy functioning of pharmacies around the UK.
During the debate, Lord Grade said: “I am grateful to my noble friend the minister for that response but, as I am sure the whole House will agree, independent pharmacies in so many small towns such as Yarmouth and places such as the Isle of Wight are now the heroic first line of defence for GPs and the NHS.
“The most vulnerable in these communities depend on them for medical advice and deliveries of vital prescriptions, which they offer for free. In my view, it is totally unrealistic for the department to point to some recent funding help as if that has solved the problem.
“It is nowhere near enough to keep the pharmacies in business, let alone to allow the pharmacists to have a day off or even earn a living. It just demonstrates that the department fails to understand why independent pharmacists are still in such grave peril.”
The former television executive suggested the concerned department secretaries meet a delegation of community pharmacists to listen to them on the issues being faced by them.
Lord Bethell further commented: “I agree with every word of the tribute of the noble Lord, Lord Grade, to the role of community pharmacies, particularly during the epidemic.
“They have played an absolutely pivotal role in communities, with advice, medicines and support, and I pay tribute to their hard work and commitment. I would be very pleased to meet a delegation to discuss the challenges that they face.”
