Pharmacies vote to cut services unless UK government acts over ‘crisis’

Pharmacists’ representatives said a ‘sense of anger’ had grown since the autumn budget. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA

Pharmacies have said they will halt a number of services within weeks, including the end of free medicine deliveries and extended opening hours, unless the government drastically boosts funding for the sector to stem an “escalating crisis”.

In a high-turnout ballot run by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents independent community pharmacies, 99% of pharmacy owners said they were willing to limit their services in the interests of patient safety if improved funding was not forthcoming.