Emma is campaigning against the Government’s plan to cut the budget for local pharmacies. Today (Monday 17 October) Emma has today called on the Government to disclose how many pharmacies will close.

Negotiations on a new package of funding for community pharmacies has broken down and the Government is set to push through a funding cut that could force thousands of local pharmacies to close across the country.

The Government’s initial plan to cut £170 million from the community pharmacy budget – a cut of 6 per cent – was put on hold after pressure from campaigners, but a new round of damaging cuts could now be imposed by Ministers.

The Department of Health’s own figures have shown that the £170 million cut could force up to 3,000 community pharmacies – one in four across the country – to close their doors to the public.

This could risk the closure of community pharmacies across Wolverhampton.

Today in Parliament Emma asked the Health Minister directly: “How many pharmacies will close as a result of these cuts?” The minister responded that it was very difficult to predict. However, earlier this year his predecessor acknowledged that 3,000 community pharmacies could close.

Speaking afterwards, Emma said:

“I am very concerned that the Minister was unable to give a straight answer to a straight question. People in Wolverhampton want to know what this cut will mean for the local pharmacies that they depend on.

“I am calling on the Government to drop this damaging plan to cut community pharmacies and get back around the negotiating table with pharmacists.

“These cuts are bad for Wolverhampton as many people, including young families and elderly people, rely on their local pharmacy for free medical advice and prescription medicine.

“The Government’s plan is also a false economy for the NHS, because community pharmacies save the NHS money. Cutting them will only increase costs in the long run as people will visit GPs surgeries and Accident and Emergency departments to seek assistance instead.

“The Government should urgently think again before it is too late.”