Opinion: Ballot is a reluctant but necessary step. Please vote

A decade of cuts have closed 1,500 pharmacies in England, with pharmacies also closing in Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Westminster government and administrations in Cardiff Bay and at Stormont are all clear about the value of community pharmacy and are keen on extending the clinical services it provides. However, pharmacies can only deliver services if they still exist.

Many pharmacies have closed their doors for the last time over the past 10 years and many more are on the brink.

The good news is that thanks to our Save Our Pharmacies campaign – which has generated huge national media coverage and also led to 350,000 patients signing the campaign petition – the politicians are now finally aware that there is a state of emergency across community pharmacy.

Along with NPA colleagues, I attended the recent Labour party conference and spoke with a range of politicians including pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock, Government health whip Taiwo Owatemi and former community pharmacist Sadiq Al-Hussan.

Campaign effect

From talking to dozens of Labour politicians, it was clear that our campaign – and our cross-sector delegation to Number 10 on September 19 to hand over the petition – had prompted conversations in the halls of power, with the matter of fixing community pharmacy now finally at the top of the agenda.

However, the news cycle moves on and we can’t let the matter of fair funding for pharmacies sink back down to the bottom of the pile.

The NPA is politically neutral and while we are balloting members under a Labour government, we also took a previous Conservative Westminster government to a judicial review, in protest against the cuts a decade ago. 

Six reasons to vote

Our ballot is open to all NPA members. If you are eligible, here are six reasons to vote:

• A strong turnout and a strong ‘yes’ vote will send a powerful message to the Government
• This is an advisory vote; voting yes does not tie you into taking action
• If the ballot recommends withdrawing some services, you can decide whether to take action, for how long or not at all
• Actions in the ballot are there to help you reduce costs and secure the sustainability of your business
• We have taken legal advice so you won’t breach your contract or pharmacy regulations
• Large multiples have taken many of these actions already. 

Whatever the result, as an NPA member, you will stay in control and decide what action to take, or not at all, in the best interests of your pharmacy, your team, and ultimately your patients and your community.