The 'Support Your Local Pharmacy Campaign' petition has collected its millionth signature and is on course to become the largest petition currently circulating in the UK and is already by far the largest healthcare related petition. However, pharmacy teams have been urged to keep the pressure on.

Each day, 30,000 more patients and concerned citizens are registering their objections to Department of Health plans to cut local pharmacy services.

Ian Strachan, NPA chairman, commented: “It is now absolutely clear that the Department of Health has misjudged how people feel about local pharmacies. Patients value the face-to-face support they get at local pharmacies.”

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, added: “The vast support that the public has shown for community pharmacy by signing up in the hundreds of thousands to the petition shows just how valuable our services are as part of primary care in England. At a time when we know GP services are overstretched it would be madness to disinvest in the healthcare professionals ready to help you on the high street.”

Sue Sharpe, chief executive of PSNC, said the success of the petition was down to the hard work that pharmacy teams have been putting in to get behind the campaign to show the value and importance of their services.

“In the month leading up to the close of the consultation, we must keep this pressure up. We know just how much local communities across England value their community pharmacies and their support for this petition proves that. The public seems to recognise what the Government so far has not: that community pharmacy teams are vital front-line NHS providers who can give face-to-face healthcare advice and support at a time and place that is convenient for patients.”

The petition will be delivered to Downing Street in May.

It is now absolutely clear that the DH has misjudged how people feel about local pharmacies