Pharmacies set to follow GPs in collective action as national insurance hike bites
Pharmacies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are set to join GPs in taking collective action over their funding, amid warnings that hundreds of businesses will be forced to close because of the devastating financial impact of the government’s recent budget. The action from pharmacies, which could begin in January, may include limiting opening hours to the minimum required by their contract, stopping free home deliveries of medicines which are not funded, and opting out of locally commissioned services such as some local addiction support services, emergency contraception, and smoking cessation support. The ballot comes as GPs in England continue their campaign of collective action that began in August.1 Following the increases to national insurance contributions announced …
