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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has written to the health minister Stephen Kinnock to warn him pharmacies could close or be forced to cut services from April if Labour does not support the network in England with an emergency stability payment of £52 million.

Pharmacies operating under huge pressure because of a £2.6 billion annual funding black hole are bracing themselves for higher business rates and increases in the minimum wage next month.

With talks on 2026-27 community pharmacy funding ongoing, the NPA warned “pharmacy owners are in the dark about how to meet the looming cost increases”. It called on the Government to support the pharmacy network with £52 million on April 1 and every month thereafter until the 2026-27 settlement concludes.

That, the NPA said, would “deliver about £5,000 for each pharmacy per month”.

"The government must act urgently to stabilise pharmacy finances or risk more pharmacies closing for good and leaving others with no choice but to cut back patient services,” said NPA chief executive Henry Gregg.

“Pharmacies face a financial cliff edge in just a few weeks, with significant new costs due but no news on any funding increases from the government to cover them.

“A formal NHS contract offer was put to GPs before the government even began consultations with our sector. Time is fast running out for our beleaguered community pharmacies.”