The negotiator for pharmacies in England and the representative body for independent pharmacists across the UK have expressed concern that underfunded and overworked pharmacy teams will be swarmed by patients who cannot access GPs because of their decision to stage industrial action.

Of the 8,500 family doctors who took part in a ballot by the British Medical Association, 98.3 per cent voted for collective action in the form of a range of measures outlined by the BMA.

These include GPs seeing no more than 25 patients a day, declining to sign new contracts with NHS England or integrated care boards and refusing to share patient data.

It will be the first time in 60 years GPs in England have staged industrial action and comes after they voted to reject the previous Government’s offer to increase funding for services in the new contract by 1.9 per cent in 2024-25.

Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison said pharmacies were “already under considerable strain” and their time and resources to handle even more patient queries was not limitless.

“Pharmacy teams will always do their best to help patients during times of crisis but they can only do so much,” she said. “They may have to prioritise the safe supply of NHS prescriptions and dealing with patients referred by NHS 111 over other NHS services.

“Patient safety is our utmost concern and pharmacy owners may need to activate parts of their business continuity plans, including prioritising the safe supply of NHS prescriptions.”

CPE chief: Public must be patient with pharmacies

Morrison urged the public to be patient with pharmacy teams and treat them with respect following concerns pharmacies have had to deal with angry, aggressive and at times violent patients.

She also insisted CPE will “continue to push” the Government and NHS England to improve the “underfunding of pharmacy services”.

“GP teams are not the only people in primary care who are exhausted, overworked and struggling to make ends meet,” Morrison added.

National Pharmacy Association chair Nick Kaye called on the Government to offer community pharmacies a new, improved funding deal. Talks on the 2024-25 community pharmacy contractual framework are not expected to resume before September.

Echoing Morrison’s concerns about the impact GPs’ industrial action will have on pharmacies, Kaye said: “Collective action by GPs is bound to have a ripple effect on community pharmacies, which form a key plank of primary care and provide integrated NHS services alongside general practice.

“Where GP practices limit their number of daily appointments, it’s likely that more patients will come to community pharmacies for healthcare advice, reassurance and over-the-counter medicines.”

Kaye insisted community pharmacy’s “ability to be an effective shock absorber for disruption elsewhere in the healthcare system” had been “eroded by persistent underfunding which has created serious capacity challenges in our own sector.”

He added: “Pharmacies in England have suffered a 40 per cent real terms cut over the last decade, leading to staff cuts, reduced opening hours and a wave of closures.

“As well as finding a resolution to the doctors disputes, the new government must forge a new deal with community pharmacy which funds us properly, treats us with respect and keeps our doors open to serve patients.”