Community Pharmacy Northern Ireland (CPNI) has warned Labour’s increase in employers' national insurance contributions and hike in the national living wage will have a “devastating impact” on financially stretched pharmacies in the country.

The government’s autumn Budget has caused consternation across the pharmacy sector and also in parliament where MPs have voiced their concerns about the impact of the measures on an already strained pharmacy network in England.

CPNI chief executive Gerard Greene (pictured) said pharmacies in Northern Ireland, which have been dispensing at a loss and have had to deal with other cost pressures, said Labour’s Budget will imperil pharmacy services and affect patients.

CPNI said the increases will add £10 million to community pharmacy’s payroll costs next year.

Warning 17 community pharmacies in Northern Ireland have closed since the start of 2023 because of funding pressures, he said: “These budget changes will widen this gap further and if nothing is done to protect pharmacies and its services, we will see an acceleration in pharmacy closures.”

Greene urged Northern Ireland’s health minister Mike Nesbitt to support the sector. “We call on the health minister to act and ensure that as a provider of much needed healthcare services, the community pharmacy network is supported with these cost increases,” Greene said.