MP launches petition to save local community pharmacies

Local MP Tim Farron has launched a petition to urge the Government to take action to save local community pharmacies.

Many community pharmacies in the South Lakes are in danger of going out of business because of reductions in payments for prescriptions by NHS England.

Often, the money pharmacies receive from the NHS doesn't even cover the cost of the drugs being dispensed.

In one shocking case, last November, Collins and Butterworth in Hawkshead received £5000 less in NHS payments than their total drug cost for the month.

The money they received from the NHS dropped by 12% in 2016 and a further 8% last year.

Last month Tim put a motion to Parliament and wrote to the Minister in charge of pharmacies but has still yet to a response from the Government.

Tim said: "The Government's decision to ignore the needs of our vital community pharmacies is leaving many of them in the dark over their future.

"We need to make sure that their needs are heard, which is why I'm launching a petition calling for independent pharmacies to get funding upfront so that they can be shielded from the high cost demanded by the big drug companies.

"I would urge anyone who cares about the future of community pharmacies to sign our petition."

To sign the petition to save our local pharmacies go to http://www.southlakeslibdems.org.uk/save-our-pharmacies