Pharmacies across country ballot in favour of collective action

Following the NPA-led ‘Day of Action’ in June protesting inadequate and delayed funding of pharmacies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the National Pharmaceutical Association issued a ballot to members proposing collective action to be taken to raise awareness of the plight of local pharmacies and increase funding to prevent closure. The ballot, which asked whether pharmacies were prepared to ‘limit your service offering in the interests of patient safety, if adequate funding is not forthcoming’, was passed with overwhelming support, having had responses from 63.5% of NPA members representing over 3000 community pharmacies in England, Wales and NI, with 99% voting in favour.

It appears that no immediate action will be taken to give the Department for Health and Social Care time to respond, though if no resolution is reached pharmacies taking part may opt to take measures as early as the new year, including:

• Reducing opening times to less than 40 hours per week, not opening in the evenings and at weekends
• Stopping services such as smoking cessation or emergency contraception
• Refusing certain data requests
• Stopping the provision of monitored-dose systems (medicine packs or dossette boxes), other than those covered by the equality act

Pharmacies are already stretched with a limited budget that has fallen by 40% in real terms over the last 8 years, causing at least 700 pharmacies in England over the last two years alone, according to the NPA. At the current rate, it will prove difficult for community pharmacies to stay open and provide crucial services to our patients, which is why it is important that the NPA reach an agreement with the government.

Clare Pharmacy will continue to provide services during normal opening hours for the foreseeable future, though we will consider any recommendations made by the NPA regarding collective action and support the efforts of the NPA to guarantee the safety of our patients and vulnerable people. We will always keep our patients up to date with any changes to our opening hours or our services. If you want to help support us there are several ways you can do so; including signing the NPA petition ‘Save our Pharmacies’ and writing to your MP.