Pharmacies in Suffolk are supporting a national protest about a lack of Government funding, with one warning that cuts may have to be made to opening hours and free deliveries in the future. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents independent pharmacies, conducted a ballot among its members who supported proposals to reduce opening hours and stop home deliveries. The NPA is calling for a £1.
7 billion funding increase to plug a "financial hole" and has warned that services may have to be withdrawn from as early as the new year if financial support isn't increased. READ MORE: Healthwatch Suffolk says pharmacy closures are worrying Thelma Okunuga, manager of Queen Street Pharmacy in Southwold, said her pharmacy would not be reducing opening hours or stopping free deliveries as many of the patients there were elderly and relied on the service. However, she said her team were supporting the NPA action and said the cost of medicines was getting higher, but pharmacies were not being reimbursed due to a lack of Government funding.
She added: "I think we did put in our votes, but something does have to change. I don't think we will be cutting down hours and we do still offer free delivery to our patients because a lot of them are elderly and can't get out. READ MORE: Suffolk loses seven pharmacies in two years data shows "We are still doing that because we are giving the best service to our patients, but it needs to be considered that if we do continue like this, wo.