Sukhi Basra and Ashley Cohen are disappointed with the Government’s lack of action (Image: National Pharmacy Association)
Pharmacists who feel “abandoned in the dark” are preparing to take collective action later this month such as cutting their hours.
Chemists have been left out of contract by the for almost 300 days – and has yet to start negotiations for the current financial year.
Members of the National Pharmacy Association described how they were struggling to keep the doors open due to crippling anxiety over budgets.
Ashley Cohen, 53, a pharmacy owner from , said April’s planned increases to employer contributions and the National Living Wage were a “cliff edge”.
He added: “The fact we are now into 2025 without the government sitting down with our negotiating body leaves me incredulous. I have had to go to the bank twice since January 2024 and had to borrow £125k to get us through this year.
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“There is only so many times you can inject money from savings accounts, borrow from the bank or cash in on pension pots to keep your business afloat.”
The previous five-year community pharmacy contract expired last year and no new deal has yet been agreed.
Around 90-95% of an average community pharmacy’s income is derived from delivering NHS services set out in their contract, such as dispensing medication, providing medicines advice to people leaving hospital and supporting NHS vaccination campaigns, the NPA said.
But funding has been cut by 40% in real terms over the last decade at the same time as workload has substantially increased, leading to 700 pharmacy closures in the last two years alone.
The association represents 6,000 independent pharmacies across the UK. Some 99% of members balloted last month said they would be prepared to withdraw some services until the Government addresses their funding crisis.
Sukhi Basra, 51, owner of CliniChem pharmacy in Victoria, , said her family’s life had “revolved around our pharmacy, and we’ve never hesitated to make sacrifices because we believed in the difference we were making”.
She added: “We feel abandoned by the very system we’ve supported. We’ve poured our lives into this work, and all we’re asking for is fairness.
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“The Government and NHS must recognise the value of what we do and act before it’s too late.
“Without their support, the communities we serve will lose a vital lifeline, and families like ours will be left wondering why our sacrifices weren’t enough.”
National Pharmacy Association chair Nick Kaye said uncertainty about funding was preventing pharmacies investing in better services and reform.
He added: “The seemingly endless delays to this year’s contract negotiations are unacceptable and leave hardworking pharmacies left abandoned in the dark, causing them stress and uncertainty about their future.
“The last thing pharmacies want to do is to withdraw vital services from patients as a form of collective action, but we may be left with little choice unless things improve.
“Offering GP colleagues a contract offer for the next financial year before even starting negotiations with pharmacies for this year has only inflamed this situation further.
“The Government must get around the table as soon as is possible to end the crippling uncertainty and offer reassurance and security to pharmacies so they can serve their communities with confidence.”