The funding deal has dominated pharmacy this week, especially after the economic review which said 47% of pharmacies did not turn a profit last year. 

One pharmacy owner said she had “mixed emotions, some optimism, some fear and yet more uncertainty. Is something better than nothing?”  

 Read more: ‘Staring down the barrel’ or a ‘positive first step’?

She also said it was ridiculous that community pharmacy was “put in this position” without a 2024-25 funding contract for the whole year. 

“It’s not easy for any of us to say if this is a good deal, ok deal, or a bad deal, as with all announcements, the devil is in the detail and implementation, but also it crucially lies in the flow of funding into pharmacies over a time period that is critical for the sector - how many pharmacies can afford to ride this wave any longer?” 

 Read more: ‘CPE is falling into a trap’ - pharmacy reacts to funding deal

Pharmacist Thorrun Govind said the funding “is not enough to cover rising costs” and “the government needs to be honest with the public that this is unlikely to stop pharmacy closures”. 

“Absolutely disgusted” 

One superintendent pharmacist said the deal doesn’t address rises across staff pay, utilities, rent and business rates, and the Single Activity Fee (SAF) should “match cost pressures … nearer to £1.65”. 

“Even with this uplift, we’re still behind where we were in 2019 in real terms,” he said. “This is not a reset. It’s a smaller step down instead of a large one. 

“On average, the sector is still £68k short per pharmacy, per year. Contractors deserve better, starting with full transparency, proper representation, and funding that reflects reality.” 

Read more: Funding breakdown: Write-offs, service payments and activity fees

Another agreed and called for “transparency and fairness” as well as “proper representation and a funding model that reflects the true cost of delivering high-quality care to our communities”. 

A pharmacist said he was “absolutely disgusted” and “the final blow has landed”. 

He said: “It’s a carefully worded distraction that hides yet another real-terms cut. We’ve become the NHS’s unpaid workforce, plugging holes and absorbing costs that should be covered by proper funding. This isn’t support. This isn’t sustainability. This is daylight robbery.”

Read more: Contract: It’s fair to say the deal agreed is simply not enough

He added services like Pharmacy First “could be brilliant” but referrals from GPs will not materialise “if they’re not incentivised”. 

Another pharmacist on X said the deal “equates to 19p per prescription” and that “pharmacists are paid about the same as a 2nd class stamp”.