NPA calls second day of action in support of #saveourpharmacies campaign

The National Pharmacy Association, which represents independent and independent multiple community pharmacies across the UK, have announced outline plans for a second day of action in support of the cross-sector #saveourpharmacies campaign, highlighting pharmacy cuts.

They proposed 19 September as a day to highlight the ongoing financial crisis in community pharmacy – during the political party conference season this autumn. This second day is intended to demonstrate the increasingly urgent need for government action to maintain patient access to pharmacies.

During the highly successful One Day to #saveourpharmacies in June, around 6,000 pharmacies dimmed their lights, wore black and took to social media to demonstrate the plight of community pharmacies, which have suffered huge numbers of closures due to a decade of real terms cuts.

This day was unprecedented – the first UK-wide protest of its kind in community pharmacy – and attracted support from across the independent sector from single independents to large groups.

Thanks to pharmacies collecting signatures on the day of action and since, the cross sector #saveourpharmacies petition has now topped 180,000 signatures, with more still coming in every day.

The NPA has committed to consult widely across the sector on powerful symbolic action to take, but will remain absolutely committed to ensuring that patients and staff are safe and are not put at any risk.

Paul Rees, chief executive of the NPA, said: “We are absolutely committed to working hand in hand with the new government – and colleagues across the sector - to deliver a better deal for community pharmacies and unleash the power of our network to cut GP and hospital waiting times for millions.

“At the same time, we cannot leave anyone in any doubt about the need to fund pharmacies properly and ease the financial crisis that has seen more than 1,400 close in the past decade.

“We do hope that the new ministerial team, whoever they are after the election, will seize the opportunity to invest in our network and help ease the dreadful waiting times for GP and hospital appointments.

“But we must ask our members to save the date and give ourselves a fresh moment to make it crystal clear that our network needs urgent support if it is to help deliver for patients across the UK.”