A Save Our Pharmacies campaign website has been created by leading national pharmacy bodies, to give new focus to calls for fair pharmacy funding in England.
It is the latest output of a joint programme of work being coordinated by PSNC, CCA, AIM and the NPA.
It comes the same day the group launched a new public petition on the ’38 Degrees’ platform, which calls for immediate, fair and sustained funding to safeguard NHS pharmacy services.
The newly launched site contains key messages for public, politicians and stakeholders, and hosts campaign resources to be used by pharmacy teams. It will undergo further development as the campaign progresses, with new resources added to ensure maximum public engagement.
Members of the public and pharmacy teams are encouraged to show their support for the campaign on social media, as well as signing the petition and contacting their local MPs about fair funding.
A further resource in the form of a window poster is being printed and will shortly be mailed out to all community pharmacies in England.
In a joint statement, the national pharmacy organisations said:
“A campaign of this kind benefits from having a central reference point like a website and a clear call to action like a petition. The website gives our supporters consistent messages, whilst the petition gives a
persistent drum beat for the campaign.
The pharmacy bodies are determined to keep working together to secure fair funding in England. We’re also keeping up calls for a fully funded, nationwide ‘Pharmacy First’ service.”
Malcolm Harrison, the Chief Executive of the CCA said:
“The community pharmacy network is in a very fragile position – permanent closures continue; pharmacies have each been stripped of £67,000 annually, the number of medicines shortages is growing and patients are forced to bear the brunt.
In the face of chronic underfunding, now more than ever is the time to campaign to save our pharmacies. The Government can no longer turn a blind eye and must take action to reverse the trend of pharmacy closures.
To revive community pharmacy, the Government must revisit the funding model for pharmacies and implement a fully-funded Pharmacy First model that that trusts patients to choose where they access primary care. Without action, pharmacies will flatline and patients will bear the consequence.”