Pharmacies offer ‘extra’ services as funding falls – EasternEye – Eastern Eye

SUPPORT SERVICES: Former vaccines
minister Nadhim Zahawi (right) has
praised the role played by pharmacists
in the country’s vaccination drive (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

By:
NADEEM BADSHAH

PHARMACISTS are being forced to offer extra services including botox and skincare in order to survive amid a drop-off in government funding.

Chemists are turning to providing ear wax removal, lip fillers and travel vaccination clinics to “make ends meet”, and have urged more financial support as they deal with increased costs and workforce pressures from the coronavirus pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Amish Patel, a pharmacist in Kent, told Eastern Eye: “NHS funding is non-existent at the moment. Costs are going up exponentially, there is an ever-decreasing drug margin, energy bills, the cost of living crisis.

“I ventured into medical aesthetics – botox, fillers, skincare – it is relatively lucrative service. It requires a certain skill set and we look to make £200 per hour.

“We also have been doing an earwax removal for the past two years.”

The King’s College graduate, the son of a pharmacy owner, added that pharmacy bosses used to get an Establishment Payment for having a contract and the Global Sum funding pot has decreased.

He said: “Three to four years ago, they did a deal with the government of no increase in funding, a flat rate.

“We need to be recognised and integrated into the primary care network. GPs were given grants of £50,000 to employ a pharmacist, [so] give us £50,000 to employ a pharmacist.

“[Also] why can’t pharmacists have access to an NHS pension to attract staff?”

His comments came as free of charge Covid testing for most members of the public ended on April 1. People now have to pay for a lateral flow test at pharmacies in England (although there are some exemptions). Ministers said vaccines and antiviral drugs were protecting people from the effects of severe Covid illness as universal free testing came to an end in April.

Research in March showed that community pharmacists saved almost 20,000 lives up to autumn 2021 through Covid vaccines.

The findings by the National Pharmacy Association said 71 per cent of jabs were administered until the end of October, compared to an initial target of 56 per cent.

Professor Mahendra Patel, an honorary visiting professor at the University of Bradford, said he has seen community pharmacies now offering blood pressure services, help and support to stop smoking, weight loss management, healthy living and travel vaccination clinics.

He told Eastern Eye: “It is squeezed tight, the workforce isn’t out there. A lot of them are working under strain, and they are not getting help.

“They are also part …….

Source: https://www.easterneye.biz/pharmacies-offer-extra-services-as-funding-falls/