'Vicious NHS contract' is forcing pharmacies into bankruptcy: Labour MP Steve McCabe

Steve McCabe, the Labour MP for Birmingham, Selly Oak says a “vicious” NHS contract has been forcing community pharmacies into bankruptcy.

Asking his question in parliament during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (March 8), McCabe said he has heard Rishi Sunak speak fondly about working in his mother’s community pharmacy.

The MP asked how would the prime minister feel "if 600 pharmacies close this year because of a vicious NHS contract which takes no account of rising costs and is forcing many into bankruptcy?"

The prime minister responded by saying that community pharmacies do fantastic work and that his government was looking at ways in which it could support the sector to do even more.

Sunak said: "I praise the work that our community pharmacies do. They are fantastic at being on the frontline of delivering primary care. And as I've said previously the government is exploring ways in which we can support them to do even more.

"Because improving access to pharmacies is something that people will both welcome and that and would help the people get the care they need faster and more efficiently, and we will continue to look at all the proposals that have been given to us."