Huge shortage of pharmacy staff threatens local healthcare system

Pharmacists have been relocated into general practice from both hospitals and local pharmacies in a bid to ease the crushing workload of GPs. While this policy has seen the recruitment of around 4,500 pharmacists into general practice, experts warned staff were being pulled from other areas of the NHS, placing the healthcare system at risk of collapse. Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists’ Association, told Express.co.uk the situation for community pharmacies was ‘not sustainable’ as the remaining staff are struggling to cope. The news comes as pharmacies are expected to receive an influx of patients seeking medical care as nurses walkout in the first ever Royal College of Nursing strike.Mr Harrison told Express.co.uk: ‘Everybody at the moment is experiencing huge cost increases. ‘Unfortunately, there has been an added pressure whereby, in order to be able to support general practice, the NHS has funded additional roles in primary care, in general practice.’This has led to the recruitment of around 4,500 pharmacists. There were no excess pharmacists, so those pharmacists have come out of hospitals and have come out of community pharmacy which has led to a massive shortage.’He explained: ‘It has created a huge demand for those remaining which has pushed up prices.’ Pharmacies have been hit by a crucial lack of government funding and fierce staff shortages (Image: GETTY) Malcolm Harrison reported vital pharmacy staff had been diverted to other areas of the NHS (Image: Company Chemists’ Association )Over the last two years, Mr Harrison reported the cost of locum pharmacists had increased by up to 80 percent across England, Scotland and Wales.He explained the staff pressure had added to an ongoing crisis of underfunding for pharmacies, which has left them struggling to operate.The situation is particularly concerning as, following news of a strike among NHS nursing staff, patients are expected to seek their healthcare elsewhere as hospitals, walk-in clinics and general practice services will be disrupted.Mr Harrison said: ‘When those patients who have been displaced look to get their care from other places, they will find that the community pharmacy is no longer open.’Read more: Fears for patient safety during strikes amid record NHS waiting times The RCN will go on strike for the first time in its 106 year history (Image: GETTY) Mr Harrison warned the pharmacy system was at risk of collapse (Image: GETTY)In another warning sign for the NHS, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announced on Wednesday that a ballot of members had indicated the majority supported going on strike over a pay rise dispute. The Government has offered NHS staff an average pay rise of 4.75 percent this year, although the RCN argued this would lead to ‘real terms pay cuts’ among nursing staff.The RCN has campaigned for a rise of five percent above the rate of inflation, which stands at over 12 percent, meaning nurses would receive a total pay rise worth over 17 percent.Pat Cullen, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: ‘Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife-edge at home and a raw deal at work.’Don’t miss: Full list of NHS Trust hospitals expecting fallout from industrial act [EXPLAINED]Woman, 68, now makes six-figure salary after quitting NHS job [REVEAL]Jess Phillips’ father left ‘disorientated’ in ‘harrowing’ A&E wait [INSIGHT] Ms Cullen warned nurses had experienced a ‘raw deal’ within the NHS (Image: Royal College of Nursing)Health Secretary Steve Barclay said the 17 percent pay rise pitched by the RCN was not ‘affordable’ and noted he was ‘disappointed’ that nurses had decided to strike over the pay dispute.He warned: ‘This action will mean some patients will have their treatment delayed.’The Health Secretary did indicate that he intended to continue meetings with the RCN in a bid to resolve the dispute, although the RCN has suggested the strike could continue until May next year if their demands are not met.Speaking of the strike, Mr Harrison said: ‘Once again pharmacies will be the last man standing to help patients in need, but with pharmacies closing at an increasing rate, they might not be able to provide this safety net for the NHS for much longer.’He explained years of ‘poorly planned NHS recruitment’ had left pharmacies on the brink of ‘collapse’ long before the wider NHS walkout was agreed.The Department for Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.Read next: ‘Sadly we can’t afford the pay rise nurses deserve’NHS ‘could save £2bn’ in decision to stop funding 13 proceduresWoman’s final FaceTime call to mum before fatal asthma attackBBC guest insists 17.5% nurse pay demands met in furious rant over NHSNHS fails to hit target in record fashion with woeful performance