Pharmacies in England advised to 'work to rule'
It's as the sector braces for hikes in employers' national insurance rates and a rise in the national living wage
Thousands of independent pharmacies across England have been advised to slash opening hours and services amid an ongoing row over funding.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has recommended its 6,000 members take collective action for the first time in its history from April 1 if there is no sufficient package agreed with the Government.
The organisation said it has "been left with little choice".
It comes as the sector braces for hikes in employers' national insurance rates and a rise in the national living wage.
We've been speaking to Sanjeev Panesar, a pharmacist from Birmingham.
He said he's already taken steps to ensure the financial security of his pharmacies:
"We've had to put emergency reserves and personal finances back into the business just to keep providing services to our patients.
"We had to close one pharmacy last year as the running costs were unsustainable. We've had to reduce the opening hours of another pharmacy."
The advice from the NPA could mean independent pharmacies serving notice on opening hours, leading to fewer being open during the evening and at weekends.
Free home deliveries couple also stop, with some services, such as providing emergency contraception and smoking cessation, withdrawn.
Sanjeev told us why the sector is calling for more financial support.
"Pharmacies really want to play a greater role in improving greater access to NHS care and reducing waiting times to see GPs.
"But this is not possible without the right and adequate funding from the NHS."
In November, about 3,300 independent community pharmacies took part in the unprecedented NPA ballot on collective action, meaning they can stop or reduce certain work as a way of collectively expressing concerns.
Of those who voted, 97.8% said they would serve notice on opening hours above the minimum required by their contract, meaning fewer will be open at evenings and weekends.
Pharmacies are contracted to open for 40 hours a week minimum, although most are open for 50 hours a week on average, the NPA claims.
Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, said: "We are advising our members to reduce their pharmacy opening hours or take other steps to limit costs in the short term, in order to safeguard patient services for the long term.
"This is not a step anyone of us wants to take, but we have been left with little choice because in just two weeks' time new business costs will be hitting local NHS pharmacies across the country.
"It is better that we temporarily reduce access in the short term than to let pharmacies collapse altogether under the weight of unsustainable operating costs."
According to the NPA, pharmacies are yet to receive any confirmation of funding for the 2024/25 or the 2025/26 financial years.
The trade association is recommending its members reduce opening hours or services until a funding deal is struck to allow them to meet additional cost pressures.
From April, the sector is faced with extra unfunded costs, including the rise in employer national insurance rates and the national living wage, as announced in the October Budget.
Mr Kaye added: "Pharmacies have shut in record numbers and those that are left are hanging on by their fingernails waiting for the delivery of a financial settlement that protects services on which millions of people rely.
"We hope that an offer from the government emerges by April 1 to cover the additional costs which pharmacies will face and start to plug the huge gap in funding created by 10 years of real terms cuts.
"If pharmacies do not get adequate funding, then patients risk losing access to their local pharmacy altogether, threatening their access to vital medicines and health services."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“Community pharmacy has a vital role to play as we shift the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community, through our Plan for Change.
“We are currently engaging with the sector on a settlement that will start to make it fit for the future and able to provide the services that will benefit patients and the communities that they serve.
“The National Pharmacy Association’s pre-emptive action will cause unnecessary disruption for patients and we urge them to reconsider.”
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