#SaveOurPharmacies Campaign: NPA calls second Day of Action in support of cross-sector

The previous #SaveOurPharmacies campaign saw 6000 pharmacies across the four nations participate 

A second day of action has been announced by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) to support the cross-sector #SaveOurPharmacies campaign.

This campaign aims to bring attention to the severe financial challenges facing community pharmacies due to ongoing cuts.

Scheduled for September 19, the day of action coincides with the political party conference season, aiming to emphasise the urgent need for government intervention to ensure continued patient access to pharmacies.

The NPA’s initiative follows the successful One Day to #SaveOurPharmacies event in June.

Approximately 6,000 pharmacies participated by dimming their lights, wearing black, and engaging on social media to spotlight the issues facing the sector.

The June event marked the first UK-wide protest of its kind for community pharmacies, garnering widespread support from independent pharmacies of all sizes.

The campaign’s petition has since amassed over 160,000 signatures, with more being added daily, showcasing the public's strong support for the cause.

Paul Rees, Chief Executive of the NPA, emphasised the association's commitment to consulting widely across the sector to plan impactful yet safe actions for the upcoming day of protest.

"We are absolutely committed to working hand in hand with whoever forms the next government – and colleagues across the sector - to deliver a better deal for community pharmacies and unleash the power of our network to cut GP and hospital waiting times for million," Rees stated.

He also highlighted the pressing need for proper funding to alleviate the financial crisis that has led to the closure of over 1,400 pharmacies in the past decade.

"We do hope that the ministerial team, whoever they are after the election, will seize the opportunity to invest in our network and help ease the dreadful waiting times for GP and hospital appointments.

"But we must ask our members to save the date and give ourselves a fresh moment to make it crystal clear that our network needs urgent support if it is to help deliver for patients across the UK," Rees added.