Ms May, who was appointed Prime Minister on July 13, visited Newdays Pharmacy four days previously, to discuss the proposed £170 million pharmacy funding cuts, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) told C+D.

Newdays Pharmacy owner Olivier Picard told Ms May about the range of services the pharmacy offers and said the visit showed the Prime Minister “cares for local pharmacies", according to the NPA.

The NPA said Mr Picard told them: “[Ms May] won’t let us down.”

Mr Picard is also reported to have said: “She understands that pharmacies are part of the fabric of community life and will not simply wave through proposals to cut local pharmacies in favour of online alternatives."

Today (July 21) is the last day the government can announce the details of the funding cuts before the summer recess.