Confronting Theresa May ‘shows seriousness’ of pharmacy funding crisis
An MP’s decision to confront Theresa May about the continuing pharmacy funding crisis in Northern Ireland shows “how serious the situation has become”, CPNI has said.
Ms May said she recognises “the value of community pharmacies”, when asked by Ian Paisley – Democratic Unionist Party MP for North Antrim – in parliament last week (June 20) about “what she is able to do for community pharmacists across Ulster today” in the face of a funding “shortfall of more than £20 million”.
Ms May said the government “will continue to do what we can in the absence of [a functioning devolved government], to protect the delivery of vital public services”.
“The funding gap must be resolved”
Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) told C+D yesterday (June 28) that Ms May had promised it a meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley, which it “hopes...will take place within the next 10 days”.
“There is now a need for a swift resolution to address the £20m funding gap, and we will be pressing the secretary of state and Prime Minister to take action in the absence of a functioning assembly before it’s too late.”
CPNI claimed last month that 81% of pharmacist respondents to a survey it conducted feel the “current funding situation is having an impact on their own health and wellbeing”.
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