The advance funding of £300 million from the government to alleviate cash flow issues caused by COVID-19 will need to be repaid at a later date.

But Olivier Picard, owner of three-strong Newdays Pharmacy group in Berkshire, says his business is among thousands who will be unable to afford to stay open when this money is clawed back.

The tens of thousands of pounds he is paying to keep his business afloat during the pandemic are already “crippling”, says Mr Picard, who is a National Pharmacy Association board member.

Listen to the podcast to hear more about:

• Sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) at any expense after NHS England supplies ran out
• Worsening medicines pricing problems, culminating in one wholesaler asking for almost double the concessionary price of sertraline
• How pharmacy has demonstrated the value of every store during the pandemic

You can listen to the podcast below. Alternatively, subscribe to C+D's podcasts on iTunes or by searching “Chemist+Druggist podcast” on your preferred Android podcast app.

Please note, the sound quality of this podcast may be affected as it has been recorded remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak

To keep up with the latest updates for community pharmacy visit our COVID-19 hub.