I AM shocked to hear that the government’s Department of Health (DH) is proposing to axe up to 3,000 pharmacies this year. And I am horrified to learn that my own particularl pharmacy could be one of them.

Apparently, it won’t end there. The DH recently announced substantial cuts to the funding of community pharmacies in England and warned that further cuts will follow.

I cannot believe any of this. Not so long ago the value of pharmacies to the community was being highly praised and we were being urged to support them.

So just what is happening? I understand that the DH has proposed ‘a series of policy measures which would divert investment from local pharmacies to other care settings or to online suppliers of medicines’. Meaning what exactly?

Speaking personally, the service provided by my local pharmacist and his staff is excellent. They are attentive, knowledgeable, efficient and courteous and, unsurprisingly, always busy. Could some other ‘care setting or online medicine supplier’ provide such a personal, understanding and immediate service? I think not.

Nowadays we may have to wait three weeks to see our doctor; we are constantly being told that hospitals are full; and that A&E departments are overflowing. We need our community pharmacies now as never before.

The government must think long and hard before rushing to implement policies that may have direct consequences for local pharmacies and the people they serve.

ROBERT MACMILLAN

Churchill Court

Kelham Gardens

Marlborough