The past few months have been some of the most important in community pharmacy for a very long time.

Following the announcement of a funding reduction and other proposals on December 17, the sector has come together in the most co-ordinated pharmacy communications campaign that most of us can remember.

But the work has only just begun and we must sustain this noise in the coming weeks and months.

To do this, we need help from as many people working in and using community pharmacy as possible.

Many of you will have sent letters to your MPs and talked to patients about the petition, but if you haven’t yet, the next two weeks are a perfect time.

Over the next ten days, you’re likely to receive emails from your local pharmaceutical committee (LPC) and the national pharmacy organisations about how you can help, and independent pharmacies will be receiving campaign packs in their wholesaler deliveries.

There are lots of ways to get involved: ask patients to sign the petition; tweet #lovemypharmacy with examples of the work you do; collect case studies where you make an impact on patient wellbeing; or help with local radio interviews.

The threats facing community pharmacy are great, but the campaign to protect the sector’s future is gathering pace. Whatever you can manage, we need your help. 

This comment was written jointly by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the National Pharmacy Association and Pharmacy Voice.

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