The petition against Government plans to cut pharmacy funding – the biggest ever healthcare petition with 1.8 million signatures – was delivered to 10 Downing Street yesterday (24 May), as MPs debated the issue in parliament. The petition’s delivery to the prime minister also coincided with the end of the Department of Health’s consultation on community pharmacy.

So far the petition has gathered 1.8 million signatures and this is set to increase even more over the coming days and weeks. Referring to the unprecedented reach of the petition, NPA head of communications Stephen Fishwick commented: “Each signature is a conversation, however brief, and whatever happens, that can only be a good thing.” He added: “The trick is now building on it and making that public support into a wider, organised discussion. It's all about the long term so two, five, 10 years, a generation from now.”

Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, said: “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. Many of the most vulnerable people rely on community pharmacies for medicine, public health services and easily accessible healthcare advice. 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.”