Pharmacies across the East of England at risk of closure due to rising costs
720 pharmacies have permanently closed since 2015
Last updated 4th Apr 2023
Some pharmacies across the East could be at risk of closure.
That's according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiations Committee (PSNC), which says, since 2015, that funding has been cut by 30% and 720 pharmacies have permanently closed.
The Save Our Pharmacies campaign group is now calling on the government to fund a 'Pharmacy First' Service in England, so people with minor illnesses can be treated on the NHS by their local pharmacy, instead of having to wait to see a GP for a prescription.
Anil Sharmer owns pharmacies across the East, and is our regional rep for PSNC.
He says health bosses need to take action before it's too late: "A lot of pharmacies, including all mine, are now closed on a Saturday now, because we can't afford to pay our staff and electricity on a Saturday for four hours.
"That, in turn, causes lots of problems for people in terms of access - some people can't get their prescriptions, or over the counter medicine."
Anil also told us there aren't enough resources to keep up with demand: "In my opinion, NHS funding is very GP-focused - I understand that, as most people try and see their GPs first.
"Now they've been told to come and see us first - that's great and we want them to come to the pharmacies, but we haven't got the funding to do that, to see an increased number of people."
He tells us he'll soon have to start charging patients for some of his services: "The NHS want people to see a pharmacist, but when it comes to workplace issues and funding, we're completely forgotten about.
"Because we don't want to take any action that will affect our patients, we feel like our good nature is being taken advantage of by the government."