Lincolnshire’s Health Scrutiny Committee has written to MPs demanding it brings community pharmacy issues to the government’s attention.
Councillor Richard Cleaver, the chairman of the committee, called upon MPs to fight for national action to support community pharmacies against growing pressure and medicine shortages.
“We’re seeing evidence of the growing impact of medicine shortages, with pharmacy teams spending substantial time trying to source unavailable medicines or find substitutes,” he said. “There’s also worrying evidence that this is leading to abuse and aggression towards pharmacy staff.”
Read more: CPE working on ‘coordinated’ plan to tackle pharmacy abuse
He said the impact of increased operating costs and funding cuts on the sector was making the situation “increasingly fragile.”
“Although this is a national issue, in Lincolnshire, the impact is particularly acute because of our rurality,” he added.
“This means the loss of even a small number of pharmacies can have a disproportionate effect.
“We now need our local MPs to lend their support and push government for urgent action before the situation deteriorates further.”
Read more: Nearly 8% of brick-and-mortar pharmacies closed in five years
Key recommendations made to the government in the committee’s report included publishing of a UK-wide medicine supply strategy, strengthening local coordination and workforce capacity, and expanding education, research, and market insight.
It comes after councillors in the Devon town of Tiverton raised similar concerns about the increasing levels of “impossible pressure” community pharmacies are under.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it would “welcome any suggestions about further legislative levers which could be added to meet pharmaceutical needs and safeguard provision” and that it would arrange “further conversation” to discuss the issues facing Tiverton in particular.