In December the Department of Health announced a decision to cut funding for the community pharmacy budget by £170m, a reduction of more than 6% in cash terms.
Stockport NHS Watch estimate that this could result in the closure of around 100 community pharmacies across Greater Manchester. It will be the small, local pharmacies that close – the big chains like Boots will be able to offset the funding cut.
Community pharmacies are a vital arm of the health services received by our residents, often helping to moderate demand for GP and A&E services.
A substantial petition (over a million signatures) was handed in to Downing Street last month but pharmacists are keen to secure a parliamentary debate on this issue, which requires 100,000 signatures on their online petition here.
Please sign the petition and help us keep our community pharmacies. At a time when we are being told to visit our pharmacist instead of the GP or A&E for minor ailments, this is a false economy that will not only harm patients but could well end up costing the NHS more.
