Community pharmacies are vital in helping support patients by providing one to one support to those with common ailments such as colds and flu. They help patients receive the care they need without having to visit a GP, thus in theory helping GP surgeries cut waiting times and improve access for patients with more complex needs.
The Welsh Labour Government have pinned their hopes on Community Pharmacies in helping reduce GP waiting times in Wales. Yet, they are providing inadequate financial support to sustain this policy. Increasingly pharmacies are unable to afford the staffing costs to meet the demand -leading to staff burnout- and given that they supply some medications at a loss they are rapidly becoming unprofitable businesses.
With Boots now closing 300 of its UK pharmacies and Lloyds closing all of its supermarket pharmacies I fear that there is now going to be too much pressure on existing pharmacies across Wales to deal with the 50,000 daily visits.
The Welsh Government repeatedly claim that they are cash strapped and have offered pharmacies only a 1% uplift in fees which many say is insulting.
However, despite this claim of a shortage of funds Welsh Labour have found £40Million to change road signs in Wales to 20mph, have wasted £135Million on the M4 relief road project that is not going to be built and have found £100Million in their budgets for another 36 members of the Senedd, something I and my party have repeatedly called out as a complete waste of money.
I think it is grossly unfair that the people of Wales should be denied basic services because Welsh Labour cut spending on the NHS and education so they can provide money for their pet projects. Our pharmacies are not only a crucial part of our health service but also important to our high streets and I will be doing everything I can to make sure their voice is heard and that we don't lose this most important service.
ENDS
