Scotland’s pharmacy network is in “serious financial trouble”, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) has warned.
 
The negotiating body has so far rejected two funding offers from the Scottish Government, saying they fell “far short” of what is needed.

“As pharmacy owners are increasingly turning to borrowing to keep their doors open, we are sounding the alarm,” said CPS.
 
“Without an immediate and much-improved pay offer from [the] Scottish Government, our members will be forced to control costs by cutting services to their patients – something no pharmacy owner wants to do.”

Individual pharmacy businesses could be forced to review free delivery services and medicines management support or even reduce opening hours to stay afloat, CPS continued.
 
Even the “world-leading” NHS Pharmacy First service could be at risk. It is “under pressure” and unless properly funded, along with other national services, it may have to be negotiated out of the contract, the negotiating body warned.

“We will fight to avoid this outcome, but ultimately it is Scottish Ministers who are in control of what care the people of Scotland can access from their pharmacies, and only an improved offer will secure the bright future we had planned for Pharmacy First,” said CPS.

The Scottish Government earlier this month injected £20 million of emergency funding into the network. However, medicines costs alone have gone up by at least three times this amount, the negotiator pointed out.