LOCAL pharmacists will wear all black and work in the dark in a day of protest against what they say is chronic underfunding of the system.

Wiveliscombe’s Day Lewis pharmacy is one of the many dispensaries joining the national day of action led by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

Local pharmacist Sally Farmer said: “We are drawing attention to the chronic underfunding that is putting unbearable pressure on community pharmacies like ours.

“We’ll be turning our pharmacy lights out on the morning of June 20 and our staff will be wearing black to symbolise that these are dark times for the pharmacy network. Our patients are invited to sign a petition in the pharmacy, calling on the government and NHS officials to reverse the cuts and stop the closures.

“Despite the symbolic action we are taking, the pharmacy will remain open throughout the day to serve our patients and the wider community as usual”. 

The NPA said the industry is facing severe financial strain, with 10 pharmacies closing in England every week. It is a result, they said, of a 40 per cent budget cut to pharmacies in England since 2015, since which time 1,400 are understood to have closed.

Chief executive of the NPA, Paul Rees, said: “Community pharmacies are in crisis and this is a national emergency. Our 6,000 member pharmacies and many others are saying ‘enough is enough’.

“Community pharmacies provide essential frontline health services, but they are being driven to the brink by a funding shortfall amounting to over a billion pounds a year. That’s why we’re supporting this day of action and calling on the government to take action to save our pharmacies.” 

A spokesperson for the NPA added: “Patients who wish to show their support for their local pharmacies can share their thoughts on social media #SaveOurPharmacies. The date of 20 June has been chosen as that is the day from which the average pharmacy will be loss-making overall, according to the NPA.

“Core NHS services including dispensing NHS prescriptions are effectively subsidised by the business.”