The owner of Central Pharmacy in Esher, Surrey, Subhash Patel told C+D exclusively last week (June 8) that “most people don't have the counter turnover we have”.

Without it, he said, they face a "frightening future".

Central Pharmacy is able to offer a wider range of products including "perfumes and skincare", than a "normal pharmacy", said Mr Patel.

In 2016 residents of Esher's district, Elmbridge, had the highest average gross income in the country with £64,500, more than double the UK average, according to a report by chartered accountants UHY Young.

My pharmacy would be "history" without counter trade

If Mr Patel's retail trade reduced while his prescription volume remained the same his pharmacy would be “history”, he said.

Pharmacies in more deprived areas may dispense “more prescriptions” because their patients have “more medical needs”, Mr Patel claimed.

He said he was in a "difficult position" because it would be hard to sustain staffing levels with the funding drop. But to cut back staff would compromise his pharmacy's service.

Unlike other contractors, who told C+D they have experienced cuts of up to 23.9%, Mr Patel has not yet worked out how much less money he has received.

He will soon add private travel vaccinations to his pharmacy's services. Central Pharmacy already offers tests for allergies, blood pressure checks and cholesterol monitoring.

“It’s quite a frightening future for us. I don't think I would like to pass this on to my kids”, he said.

Where is Central Pharmacy?