Pharmacies Closing

[naomi24]

The rise in the minimum wage and the additional cost of employers National Insurance contributions means closure for many pharmacies.  The chairman of Numark Pharmacies which has 5500 outlets says that since 90 percent of business is NHS based, prices can't be increased and therefore the extra costs can't be recovered. 

 

Another snag this  hapless, hopeless government missed.

[nicebloke1]

10.48. Sorry but you have been fooled by the cons excuse for treatment. Prescribing Prescriptions? Maybe for the most basic of ailments, earache? 

You don't really think that a Chemist is going to put his head on the block by taking over the duties of a Doctor even thou they may be ( nearly) on par with them. Very risky indeed. The truth is that most people still need to see a doctor for the problems they have

[newmodarmy]

Not true.we are being nudged to use pharmacies instead of a GP. Last two calls to surgery we were referred to a pharmacy....our surgery doesn't deal with UTIs or ear wax issues and refers you to a pharmacy or  Vision Express ( yes for ears!).

And I needed cream for a skin rash but because of the lack of appointments and low priority under the triage system they suggested I go to the pharmacist, which I did.

[nicebloke1]

You've just confirmed all of my posts. Bog standard advice. Nothing more. Thats what they've been doing for years at the chemists.

[newmodarmy]

Bog standard advice? They prescribed medication for the UTI and skin rash! And Vision Express did the ear wax treatment, not give advice.

 

[Untitled]

pharmacies do provide a large number of services. vaccines and blood testing alone take up a lot of slack which would otherwise not get done or be done by the nhs

i can appreciate the budget might make things slightly more difficult but i do not accept that the implication that the NI charges will have anything like the impact naomi suggests they will

this report by healthwatch concludes that the main reason community pharmacies are experiencing temporary and permanent closure is due to a lack of available staff. 
 

https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/report/2024-09-26/pharmacy-closures-england
 

why might pharmacies who offer such an important service in many parts of the country be struggling to attract and keep staff? this is the root cause here. it is not employers having to pay higher NI contributions. i don't know enough to say for certain but if we want to slow or reverse pharmacy closures then we begin with the root cause and that is attracting and retaining staff.

that is of course assuming that this thread is actually about protecting pharmacies and not yet another thread complaining about the budget. 

[Peter Pedant]

National Insurance contributions means closure for many pharmacies. 

well ask Rishi

His family became very reeshy ( billions) from pharmacies. OK ask his in-laws then

Money to be made from most things

[naomi24]

Naomi didn't say it - the Chairman of a large chain of pharmacies said it.  I'd hazard a guess that he knows a bit more about running his business than you do, untitled.

[Untitled]

I can't find the quote from him naomi. where did you find this information?

[naomi24]

//Harry McQuillan, chairman of Numark Pharmacy, which has 5,500 independent community pharmacies in its network, told The Sun: “Unlike retailers and other businesses pharmacies can’t increase prices to cover these rising costs because 90 per cent of pharmacy revenue is NHS dependent.”

“I know one local pharmacy owner who is having to find £600 a month extra because of the Budget. This is not a big pharmacy, they will struggle to keep their doors open.”//

 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/31473494/pharmacies-risk-closure-budget/

[nicebloke1]

Struggling no more than a independent butcher, baker, cakemaker Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda Morrisons have been wiping then out along with independent petrol stations. The small chemist has been going bust in small towns because the footfall has dropped due to the  other small traders closing in the town, plus bigger chemists offer free delivery. So who is going to use or bother with the smaller chemist especially in a deserted high street were they can't shop for anything else?

[naomi24]

nicebloke, //90 percent of business is NHS based, prices can't be increased and therefore the extra costs can't be recovered. //

 

^That doesn't apply to other shops.  Which bit of that do you not understand?

[nicebloke1]

What part dont you understand the butcher baker cakemaker cant increase their prices either they are already more expensive than the big supermarkets.

[Peter Pedant]

Naomi didn't say it - the Chairman of a large chain of pharmacies said it. 

I love Naomi's clarifications. I live for them, even

[naomi24]

Peter Pedant, go and have a cup of tea.

 

nicebloke, butchers and bakers have to increase their prices to meet increased overheads.  That's why the prices rise.   You really haven't a clue how business works.

[nicebloke1]

If anyone is resposible for putting the small chemist out of business and any other small business its the big supermarket, with there inhouse chemists also offering delivery.

[theshedman]

Our supermarket chemists don't offer delivery but the independent ones do.

[nicebloke1]

High streets all over the uk, closed shops empty high streets it was obvious small chemists would follow the trend and close. 

[nicebloke1]

12.51 proves my point then, the supermarket already has the footfall.

[nicebloke1]

Should be 11.51

[naomi24]

This is like talking to a brick wall.