Emma Reynolds, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has written to pharmacists in Wolverhampton to get their views on just how government plans to reduce funding to community pharmacies will affect their businesses. On a visit to a pharmacy in her area, Emma discussed with the pharmacist, the concerns he had about the likely impact on his business and the services he can provide to local people, some of which are over and above commissioned services.

Speaking after the visit, Emma said: “I am greatly concerned at the impact this reduction would have on pharmacists and what they can provide. At a time when the Department of Health announced plans for the NHS 111 advice service to direct more patients with minor ailments to local pharmacies instead of GPs and to give more powers to dispense prescriptions without a visit to the doctor first, to even be thinking about reducing the budget available is a retrograde step that will have negative consequences and I would urge the government to think again.”

You can see my letter to pharmacists and a copy of the survey here:

I am always keen to hear from residents directly on issues that affect them, and would like to hear your views on pharmacies and just what services you access from them. Please email me here:

March 2017