Chemists across UK threaten to cut opening hours in 'collective action' over funding

Pharmacists are threatening to cut their opening hours in “collective action” unless their funding is increased.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that thousands of pharmacies face a financial ‘cliff edge’ in April as rises in National Insurance and National Living Wage take effect. It has previously balloted for the work-to-rule action, slashing opening hours to contractual minimums, if a better NHS pay deal cannot be negotiated.

The Mirror is campaigning to save family chemists and stop after hundreds closed, piling pressure on overstretched GPs.

Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies have shut in record numbers and those that are left are currently hanging on by their fingernails. They are growing increasingly concerned about their future. Without imminent funding certainty from the government we may be left with little choice but to recommend collective action to ensure pharmacies can survive for the patients who rely on them.”

The NPA represents independent community pharmacies which can be a vital lifeline in local communities, providing essential NHS services. Previous NPA analysis of NHS data found 1,250 pharmacies have shut since 2017.

Given that pharmacies each serve an average of 5,600 people, the NPA calculated that as many as seven million people have seen their local pharmacy close. The majority of these closures have come in the last three years. It means the elderly and people living in isolated communities can struggle to get hold of lifesaving medicines.

The NPA estimates these new increases to National Insurance and the National Living Wage will cost pharmacies across the UK £310 million.

Nick Kaye added: “Pharmacies face a financial cliff edge at the beginning of April with a triple whammy of rising National Insurance, National Living Wage and business rates all arriving at once. At the moment, they still have no certainty if any of these costs will be met by the government, despite assurances for other parts of the health system including our GP colleagues.”

The NPA says pharmacies saw real terms cuts of 40% over the past decade under the Tories. Unlike other businesses, pharmacies are unable to increase their prices in response to business tax rises. Around 90% of an average pharmacy’s work is funded via the NHS, including the cost of supplying medication as well as providing vaccination services

Some 99.7% of pharmacies who voted in the NPA's consultative ballot said they would be prepared to take collective action for the first time in their history if their funding situation did not improve. The NPA says it will recommend its members take collective action, including cutting back their opening hours for patients, if a new funding settlement which meets these costs is not announced by the government imminently. The action would take place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland.

Chemists are angry that the Government delayed negotiations with them over a new funding settlement after they had been planned to start 10 months earlier.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Community pharmacy has a vital role to play as we shift focus out of hospitals and into the community as part of our Plan for Change. We are currently in consultation with Community Pharmacy England over funding for this year and next and will provide an update in due course.”