The National Pharmacy Association in England has told its 6,500 member pharmacies to reduce opening hours and services as of 1 April if the government does not provide sufficient funding.
The NPA stated that the move was the first of its kind in 104 years. It is meant to protect patients, as there has not been a financial settlement covering a wide range of new costs for pharmacies starting next month.
The report said that if there is no resolution, increases in employers’ national insurance contributions and the national living wages, as well as a decade-long reduction of real terms, could compromise patient safety.
The government stated that the move would cause “unnecessary disturbance for patients”, and it is currently working with pharmacies to reach a settlement. A spokesperson for Department for Health and Social Care encouraged the NPA reconsider.
The NHS funds around 90% of the work of pharmacies, but there is no confirmation that they will receive funding in 2024-25 or even 2025-26. This could allow them to avoid service cuts.
Since 2017, the NPA reported that funding for pharmacies has been cut by around 40% in real terms, causing many of them to close. Around 1,300 pharmacies have closed since 2017.
Nick Kaye, NPA Chair said: “We advise our members to cut their pharmacy hours or take steps to limit short-term costs to protect patient services on the long-term.
The new costs for local NHS pharmacies will hit the nation’s local NHS pharmacies in two weeks.
It is better to temporarily restrict access than to allow pharmacies to collapse under the weight unsustainable operating costs.
The NPA recommended that its members notify the NPA of any changes to their services or opening hours. This could include fewer pharmacies open at night and on weekends, restricting home deliveries and pulling out from local schemes such as addiction support.
Every pharmacy has safety as its top priority. Each pharmacy must determine the best course of action to take, and notify patients and local NHS boards of any changes. The NHS must be notified five weeks in advance of any changes to pharmacy hours.
Kaye said:
We hope to hear from the government by the 1st of April about an offer to cover the extra costs that pharmacies will be facing and to start plugging the huge funding gap created by 10 years in real terms cuts.
If pharmacies don’t get enough funding, patients may lose access to their local pharmacist, which could affect their access to essential medicines and health care services.
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