Third of London pharmacies could close due to budget cuts

About a third of London’s pharmacies could close as the government aims to save about £22bn from the NHS budget.

According to the Evening Standard, the government wants to close pharmacies in areas where there are clusters of pharmacies within 10 minutes of each other.

The National Pharmacy Association said 750 of the 2,500 pharmacies in London were at risk.

In December, the government said it planned to cut the £2.8bn pharmacy bill by 6%, or £170m a year.

Pharmacies currently receive a payment and top-up fees based on the number of prescriptions they issue, which totals about £220,000 a year, and as a result of the reduced funding, pharmacies on average will incur a £14,500 cut.

There are concerns that the closures could affect independent pharmacies and pharmacies in areas with few doctors as the NHS encourages patients to seek medical advice from pharmacists to alleviate pressure on GPs and hospitals.