Feedback from Numark members shows that, following the category M reductions, many have had to reduce staff hours and postpone annual wage increases, while others have stopped ordering cat M products.

“My customers don’t like me not having the stock but they don’t understand how a drug can be £3 one month and £33 the next,” said one. Premises improvements have also been put on hold. Services top the list to help drive additional income, ranging from NHS to the provision of private services such as travel and private PGDs, Numark reports.

Many members also spoke of their intention to maximise OTC and retail opportunities.

• Numark is providing Healthy Living Pharmacy Level 1 training to contractors in North Yorkshire and Humber. So far, the training has been rolled out to 198 pharmacy staff, says Numark, of which 115 have become health champions and 83 have completed the leadership training. Free-to-attend sessions are running throughout September, focusing on topics such as how to run a successful Stoptober campaign.