Independent chemists struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic have received support from the Government’s pharmacies minister following demands for action in the House of Commons by Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely.
Bob introduced a debate on Monday following a request for help from local independent pharmacist Tim Gibbs of Yarmouth Pharmacy.
Seely said pharmacies had suffered the double blow of having to pay for additional resources such as safety screens at a time when over the counter sales had fallen away because of lockdown. This was particularly felt in places like Yarmouth where visitor purchases supplemented local trade.
Bob said:
“Although many healthcare providers closed their doors during the pandemic, pharmacists stayed open, often at risk to themselves and their staff. For many people in our communities, NHS pharmacies were the visible face of healthcare on the High Street.
“Pharmacy staff saw patients in person and ensured that the public – particularly vulnerable patients – had a consistent and safe supply of medicine. In doing so, they took considerable pressure off other elements of the health service.”
He said although Government support for independent pharmacies during the pandemic was welcome, the funding for pharmacies had shrunk by a significant amount in recent years.
“If pharmacists are left holding the bag for the costs that they have incurred through serving their communities in the past few months, many of them, including Tim, are worried that they will be forced to shut down in the next year or two.
Article continues below this advertisement “I believe that that would be a national shame. The ongoing uncertainty is an additional burden that pharmacists just do not need.”
In response, Pharmacy Minister, Jo Churchill, said:
“Community pharmacies across the country, including those on the Island are at the very heart of our community. Everyone agrees they play a vital role in providing medicines and health advice to all those who cross their threshold.
“We will continue to work closely with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, NHS England and NHS Improvement to consider what further support and funding contractors will need during the pandemic and as we move into the recovery phase.
“We have just entered discussions on firm proposals for additional funding put forward by the Government to meet the extra costs incurred by pharmacists at the peak of the pandemic.
“I thank the Member for Isle of Wight for securing this important debate. I know that the coming months will continue to be challenging for Tim and the other community pharmacists, but it is really important they know quite how much they are valued by members from all parties, but mostly by their communities.
“I am personally committed to continue to do all that I can to support community pharmacies, which are an essential part of our lives, our high streets and our NHS family.”
All you people out there who have a pop at Bob Seely all the time should realise that he has said more in the House of Commons on behalf of Islanders than all the others put together since Steve Ross. My family had a problem with a school issue and we e-mailed him not expecting much but we were surprised to get a reply within days promising that he would look into it. Lo and behold the school woke up and took the necessary steps to sort the problem. Hopefully you lot will get off his back and realise you lost the last election
Doesn’t stop the fact that he broke lockdown rules in a more serious way than Cummings did. ‘Ol sausage Seely has pulled the wool over your eyes for sure, 1 good deed and he is forgiven. NOT.
This was well before lockdown you should get a life and I wonder how many times you and your friends and family have broken lockdown rules so get off your high horse and get real
It wasn’t before lockdown……. I’m not on my high horse. And yes, I am real. I have never broke lockdown rules, I’m not one of those selfish denialist’s.
He sorted our problem out well before lockdown and I don’t believe that many people haven’t broken lockdown rules and I bet you have been too close to people so get a bloody life cos I am not a denialist and unlike you I’m not a bitter and twisted person
I am pleased to see that Bob Seely has spoken out for Community Pharmacy. Independents and multiples all provide an extremely valuable service, but the independents are more vulnerable to closure because of their limited purchasing power.
They need extra support from their contract with the NHS.
As members of the public you can help in several ways.
If you use a national mail order pharmacy for your prescription , change back to using a Pharmacy on the Island , the majority deliver so you will not lose the advantage of home delivery.
Local jobs depend on you supporting local Pharmacies.
Buy your medicines from a Pharmacy and not from your local supermarket, medicines are not like baked beans, they often need advice at the point of sale and Pharmacy staff are qualified to give this.( some supermarkets have pharmacies and my comments are not aimed at those ).
Once a pharmacy is forced to close due to financial pressure , it is unlikely to be replaced .
The Isle of Wight has a good community pharmacy network but cannot really afford to lose a single one.
Their future is dependent on public support and they are often overlooked when people praise the NHS , well done to all of them.
Please to hear he occasionally replies I have sent FIVE questions and this so called MP has not replied to ONE and they all related to the well-being of the Island Population . But there again by replying to an individual does not get him publicity!