Helen Morgan challenges Chancellor over ‘hammer blow’ to pharmacies in Spring Statement

Helen Morgan challenged the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday over when pharmacies in her constituency will have their NHS contracts confirmed for both the current and new financial year.

The MP made the comments during the Spring Statement, asking the Chancellor directly whether or not the Government’s Pharmacy First Scheme – enabling community pharmacists to supply medicines for seven common conditions without the need to see a GP – would be continuing beyond the end of next week.

This comes after GPs, Pharmacies, Care Providers and Hospices were all delivered a major blow by the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget tax hikes. Many are now concerned they will not be able to survive.

Liberal Democrat MPs have been campaigning against the National Insurance and Business Rate hikes, giving warnings that the decision could force many providers to close their doors.

Community Pharmacies have faced the added challenge of not knowing what they will paid for their NHS work – either for the current or new financial years.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “The Chancellor’s tax hikes are a hammer blow to pharmacies, many of which are already struggling to keep their doors open.

“On top of this, Ministers are still refusing to say how much they will be paid for their services, even though the funding for schemes like Pharmacy First officially ends next week.

“No one can run a business or service not knowing how much they will be paid.

“If we want to fix the crisis in the NHS, people must be able to make use of the care that already exists on their high streets.

“Labour needs to get a grip of this chaos and back our pharmacies.”