Around 6,000 community pharmacies in England have been advised for the first time to begin "working to contract" within two weeks unless an agreement is reached with the government regarding a new National Health Service (NHS) contract. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is urging its members to limit their opening hours to 40 hours per week, as stipulated in the current contract, because they have not received any funding confirmation for the current or next financial year. This situation highlights the financial pressures faced by community pharmacies.
Read Also...:
Man last known to be seen with missing University of Pittsburgh student tells prosecutors how he rescued her f
03-20, 2025
Eminem's ex-employee accused of stealing and selling rapper's unreleased music
03-20, 2025
Jury finds Greenpeace liable for hundreds of millions in relation to pipeline protest
03-20, 2025
British teenager who killed family and planned school massacre gets minimum 49 years in prison
03-20, 2025The NPA's actions could lead to pharmacies cutting services such as delivering medication to people's homes, addiction support, smoking cessation assistance, and emergency contraception. The government has stated that this move would cause "unnecessary disruption" to patients and that it is in discussions with pharmacies to find a solution. On average, NHS contract income accounts for approximately 90% of a pharmacy's total revenue, making it a critical source of funding.
Pharmacies have expressed anxiety due to the lack of agreement on their contracts, particularly as National Insurance, the National Living Wage, and business rates have increased since April 1st. Furthermore, funding cuts over the past decade have taken their toll, with 30 pharmacies having closed since the beginning of this year. Last November, approximately 3,000 pharmacy owners in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland voted in favor of taking action, reflecting widespread concern within the industry.
NPA Chairman Nick Kaye stated that pharmacies have "no other choice." He added, "Rather than let pharmacies collapse completely under the weight of unsustainable operating costs, it is better to temporarily reduce services in the short term." There has been little feedback from ministers, and the current uncertainty is having a "devastating" impact on pharmacies. Mr. Kaye also said, "We want to continue serving patients, paying our staff, rather than thinking about closing our doors, and investing in our businesses for the future."
The UK Department of Health and Social Care has stated that pharmacies play a vital role as the NHS shifts its focus from hospitals to the community. An official stated, "The National Pharmacy Association's preemptive action will cause unnecessary disruption to patients, and we urge them to reconsider." Healthwatch England, which records the experiences and concerns of people using health and social care services, has urged the government to reach an agreement with pharmacies as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of accessible pharmacy services.
Healthwatch England's Benedict Knox stated that many patients are seeing their local pharmacies close or experiencing service disruptions due to staff shortages. He said, "This issue particularly affects elderly people, and it is especially severe in rural areas, where people often have to travel further to see a pharmacist." However, he emphasized that not every community pharmacy is an NPA member, and the decision to reduce services is up to each individual pharmacy. According to the Community Pharmacy England organization, which represents all pharmacy owners, there are approximately 10,500 pharmacies in England.
