Other local health services will come under increased pressure if the Government proceeds with its plans to cut investment in local pharmacies, according to new research commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

The findings, based on a survey of 2,000 people, found that two in five people would go to their GP if it became more difficult to access their local pharmacy for the treatment of common conditions, while over a million people nationwide would visit A&E or other urgent care services.

The survey also revealed that two in three people use a pharmacy at least once a month and that 36 per cent have received advice from their pharmacist on how to get best use of their medicines in the past six months. Most pharmacists offer confidential advice in a consulting room and 28 per cent of respondents said they had received such advice.

The research was carried out during the Department of Health's consultation on 'Community Pharmacy in 2016/17 and Beyond', which includes proposals to reduce NHS funding. The Government has admitted that up to 3000 pharmacies could close as a consequence.

Ian Strachan, NPA chairman, said: “The research confirms how much people really value the face-to-face advice they get at local pharmacies. It also shows that if you reduce people’s access to such advice, that simply puts extra pressure on GPs and hospitals, which are already stretched.

"The Department of Health says it wants efficiencies, yet its plans for pharmacy would build inefficiencies into the system.”

A campaign petition urging the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary to abandon the plans has so far gathered 200,000 signatures from concerned pharmacy users.