The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is distributing new campaign materials to pharmacies across England this week to empower them to advocate for fair
funding in the forthcoming general election.
These include campaign posters, stickers, postcards for patients to send to MPs and petition materials.
By supplying these resources, the NPA aims to boost its cross-sector #SaveOurPharmacies campaign and help pharmacies raise local and national awareness of the
funding crisis that is forcing pharmacies to close at the rate of 10 a week.
NPA chief executive Paul Rees said: "Pharmacies are under crushing financial pressure. We want to help them join our efforts to raise the profile of the funding
crisis and make the public and politicians fully aware of the threat to our much-loved pharmacy network.
There is a state of "emergency" across the community pharmacy sector, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned.
The organisation is holding a day of protest action, called 'One Day to #SaveOurPharmacies', on 20 June to draw attention to the sector's growing crisis.
During the protest, pharmacy teams across the UK are expected to take a range of symbolic actions - such as turning the lights out for a period, asking their
staff to wear black, blacking out windows, using the day to engage with patients, inviting parliamentary candidates and using #Saveourpharmacies on social
media - signifying dark times for the beleaguered community pharmacy sector, the NPA said.
The organisation decided to choose 20 June for the protest as it marks the day from which the average pharmacy across the four nations will be "lossmaking
overall."
"I dread the day, the accountant turns to me and says 'this isn't working' - as an owner, we shelter our patients and teams from the financial pressures
we feel on a daily basis," shares S.G Barai Pharmacy owner, Reena Barai.
Today, S.G Barai Pharmacy in Sutton, Surrey joined pharmacies nationwide in the #SaveOurPharmacies day of action, organised by the National Pharmacy Association
(NPA) to spotlight the critical funding crisis facing community pharmacies across the UK.
Recent figures reveal that over the past decade, more than 1,400 pharmacies have closed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with additional closures looming
in Scotland due to financial pressures.
The NPA reports that three-quarters of pharmacies are operating at a loss, exacerbated by real-terms cuts to funding.
"We turned our lights off and wore black today to symbolize the precarious situation pharmacies like ours are facing," said Reena Barai who owns the pharmacy.
Darren Jones MP, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, visited Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc's new Watford facility on Thursday (6 June) as part of the
imminent Labour Party campaign trail.
Jones was joined by Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Watford, Matt Turmaine, and a team of campaign workers.
During their visit, the Labour delegation met with the directors and founding member of Sigma, Dr Bharat Shah CBE, and discussed the importance of investment
and support for growing businesses and the pharmaceutical sector both in the region and across the country.
Sigma Pharmaceuticals, which is believed to be Watford's largest employer, noted that the pharmaceutical sector contributes a significant value to the East of
England, accounting for 12.3 per cent of the region's manufacturing gross value added (GVA).
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has written to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) to highlight several important points regarding their
proposed "day of action" on 20 June 2024.
The NPA describes this initiative as a response to the "emergency across the community pharmacy sector."
In a letter addressed to NPA Chair Nick Kaye and Chief Executive Paul Rees, the PDA's director of pharmacy, Jay Badenhorst stressed the need for NPA members to
consider their obligations to staff and patients before participating in the planned actions.
He stated, "We are supportive of a new contractual framework for the community pharmacy sector."
"However, any actions taken must ensure the safety of patients and the operational integrity of pharmacies."
The PDA's letter also expressed concerns over the safety and operational impact of the proposed symbolic gestures, including turning off lights and blacking out
windows.
