To support Community Pharmacies across the UK I am pleased that the Government have announced a £300 million cash boost to ensure they can continue to carry out essential services during the coronavirus outbreak.
Pharmacy contractors received a £200 million boost on the 1st of April alongside their normal monthly payments, with a further £100 million due on the 1st of May. This additional funding will help pharmacies in South Derbyshire cope with the increasing demand and pressures they are under to provide critical services. This includes not only supplying medicine, but also providing medical advice.
As I’m sure we all appreciate the pressures the Health Service is under, I welcome the move to reduce the number of services that community pharmacies are required to deliver. This will enable them to concentrate on the most important tasks and aid their ability to deliver essential services whilst also continuing to receive their full NHS funding.
With more and more people shielding or self-isolating pharmacies play a key role by delivering prescriptions to their door. They are doing an excellent job helping people get the medicine they need and continuing to protect and prevent them from breaking social distancing measures.
Furthermore I would also like to support the Governments call for pharmacy professionals who have recently left the industry to return and re-register. We must do all we can to support the NHS and save lives.
