CONCERNS are growing for the future of pharmacies around East Hampshire due to a hefty reduction in government funding.

‘Use us or lose us’ is the plea that an East Hampshire pharmacist has made to Post readers as the industry struggles to cope with a 12 per cent reduction in community pharmacy spending.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DOH) confirmed last week that 156 “bricks and mortar” pharmacies across England have closed since the £170m cuts were imposed in November 2016.

They include Lloyds’ in Bedhampton and Hayling while Rowlands – which has branches in Clanfield, Lovedean and Cowplain – is now considering plans to reduce its network due to “draconian” cuts in pharmacy funding.

The reduction – which works out to about £35,000 per pharmacy – was signed off despite serious objections from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

They labelled the cuts “unjustified” while more than 100,000 people across the UK signed a petition against the move.

Namesh Patel – who took over Rowlands Castle Pharmacy with his wife, Kay, earlier this year – believes no one is immune from closing as a reduction in prescription remuneration could further threaten the industry’s viability.

“Everyone is trying to find a survival strategy,” said Mr Patel.

“It’s not going to affect the big companies so much but what about the small local pharmacies in places like Rowlands Castle, Horndean and Havant?

“All we can do is ask for the village’s support and ask residents to utilise us as their first port of call for their healthcare and toiletries needs over the larger supermarkets.”

Sanjeet Nijkar, pharmacist at Everetts in Horndean, also confirmed that the government cuts have been a bitter pill to swallow.

He said: “Our finances aren’t what they used to be as the government has cut our funding, simple as that.

“We’ve still got the same number of staff but it would be better to have more, especially if they want us to offer all those services they’re keen for us to provide.” The Post also asked staff at Day Lewis in Petersfield and Rowlands in Lovedean for their views but both were unable to comment due to head office guidelines.

However, Jay Patel, one of three executive directors at Day Lewis, gave a “guarantee” that no branches would close in a March 2017 interview with industry publication, Chemist and Druggist.

He said: “The cuts do not help us in our vision to give the best to our patients; they make it very difficult.

“But it’s not in my plan to close anything, and it goes completely against our strategy.”