Pharmacies could shut early in protest over ‘chronic real-term cuts’
Pharmacies could shut early in protest over "chronic real-term cuts" as Sir Keir Starmer battles to end industrial action that has crippled the NHS.
The "work-to-rule" measures, to be voted on by pharmacists in the coming weeks, could see opening hours and services such as free medicine deliveries slashed before Christmas.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which is balloting its members on the proposals, said it had been driven to take drastic action because real-terms funding cuts had pushed the sector "to the brink".
Paul Rees, the NPA's chief executive, suggested the organisation had also been spurred on by the recent bumper pay deals for junior doctors and train drivers.
He said: "It pains us to take this step but pharmacies are being pushed to the brink by a decade of real terms cuts that have slashed 40 per cent from their funding.
"Pharmacies are routinely required to dispense NHS medicines at a loss, 1,500 have been forced to close in the past decade, while others have had to cut hours to try and make ends meet. That is not acceptable and is hitting patients hard."
'Insufficient funding'
He added: "We desperately want to work with Wes Streeting and the new Government to unleash the vast potential of pharmacies to deliver the better health in the community that we all want.
"But despite big settlements for junior doctors and train drivers since the election, there is no sign – as yet – of an end to the chronic real-terms cuts that are literally driving dedicated healthcare professionals in pharmacies out of business."
It comes as GP surgeries across the country embark on work-to-rule measures designed to bring the NHS to "a standstill" in protest against "insufficient funding" .
Last week, a senior union figure warned family doctors will go further and strike if Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, does not "listen to us".
Junior doctors, who received an inflation-busting salary increase from the new Government, have also threatened to strike again if they are not awarded "full pay restoration".
The NPA, which has called for a £1.3 billion funding increase in England, said that action could start before Christmas if the majority vote in favour. As it is not a trade union, any outcome of the ballot would be advisory.
'A broken NHS'
Potential action could involve pharmacies opening for only the minimum number of hours, withdrawing free medicine deliveries, or cutting emergency contraception or anti-smoking services.
The ballot says: "Community pharmacies are committed to providing a safe service. But our ability to provide that safe provision will soon be put at risk by continued declining funding, mass pharmacy closures and growing workloads.
"We are putting the NHS leaders on notice that we cannot guarantee community pharmacy services will remain safe into the future if current depressed funding, pharmacy closures and increasing workload trends continue."
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "This Government inherited a broken NHS where pharmacies have been neglected for years.
"Pharmacies are key to making healthcare fit for the future as we shift the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community. We will make better use of pharmacists' skills, including accelerating the rollout of independent prescribing to improve access to care."
