Many pharmacies could stop opening evenings and weekends in the new year after owners voted for class action for the first time.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said its members did not want to cut services but had “no options” if the government did not increase funding.

Some could also interrupt deliveries, consultations and emergency contraception if an agreement cannot be reached.

The amount paid to pharmacies for the medicines they supply the NHS is set by the government.

The NPA said this figure had not increased in 10 years.

Around 700 pharmacies have closed in England in the last two years and 1,250 in the last decade.

Pharmacies are contracted for 40 hours a week – but most are open for an average of 50 hours, according to the NPA.

More than 3,300 independent pharmacies took part in the vote (a participation rate of 64%) and 97.8% of them declared themselves ready to reduce their opening hours.

More than 96% also voted in favor of potentially withdrawing services such as drug support, smoking cessation services and emergency contraception.

Learn more:
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NPA chairman Nick Kaye said: “Pharmacy owners are not a radical group, we have never proposed action like this before, but after a decade of underfunding and closures record, something simply has to give. »

He said anger had “intensified exponentially over the Budget”, with rising employer social security contributions and an increase in the national living wage pushing “even more pharmacies to the brink”.

Independent Pharmacies Association director Dr Leyla Hannbeck said the national insurance increase would cost pharmacies £12,000 more a year.

“The Government must urgently increase funding for pharmacies to prevent further closures of community pharmacies,” Dr Hannbeck said.

“We are awaiting a settlement and the results of that settlement will determine next steps.”

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General practitioners in England too voted for collective action earlier this year, consecutively about new contracts.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has published a list of 10 actions to consider regarding surgery, including limiting the number of patients to 25 per day and refusing to carry out certain work.

The GP funding increase for 2024/25 was 1.9% – and 99% rejected it in the BMA vote.