Hancock to halt planned closure of pharmacies

MATT HANCOCK has hinted that the Government will reverse cuts to pharmacies in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Plans devised by Theresa May’s government to close 3,000 pharmacies in England have always proved controversial, not least in the light of the role played by high-street chemists throughout the pandemic.

Addressing the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) conference on Monday,

the Health Secretary said of the cuts: “The day that idea ended was the day I became Secretary of State.”

He added: “I completely understand that if we’re going to ask pharmacies to do more it has to be paid for … We need to make sure we are paying properly for those services to make sure that it works for both sides.”

The industry is lobbying the Government for the £370million in emergency loans it received to cover additional Covid-19 costs to be turned into grants. Mr Hancock has already said pharmacies will play “a critical role” in what he called “the biggest flu vaccination programme in history” this year. They will also help to deliver and administer coronavirus vaccines when the time comes.

Polling carried out for the NPA last year found 55 per cent of the public had visited a pharmacy during the pandemic, with 68 per cent saying they would consider visiting a pharmacy to receive a coronavirus test and/or a vaccine (about the same as a GP surgery at 70 per cent).

In a debate on Tuesday, Jo Churchill, a health minister, said pharmacies had “stepped up, innovated and shown great resilience.”

Andrew Lane, chairman of the NPA, said: “The additional costs we’ve had to bear could tip many pharmacies over the edge into bankruptcy. We hope to play a significant part in testing for antibodies and the vaccination programme when it finally emerges.

“Cutting pharmacy numbers was never a good idea, but it’s absolute madness in the current circumstances.”

Last month, former health minister Alistair Burt, who brought in the controversial cuts, admitted he regretted the decision, which saw 282 pharmacies close in England. Writing online for The Article, he said: “To reduce the number of pharmacies indiscriminately, relying more on an Amazontype delivery service, was wrong.”