Luke Myer, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, visited Harrops Pharmacy in Loftus to meet with owner Dawn Cruikshank and Peter Horricks from the Community Pharmacy Tees Valley partnership that oversees 147 pharmacies across the Tees Valley. 

Harrops provides essential services to residents in Loftus, Staithes, and Skelton, including NHS and private prescription dispensing, minor illness advice, and vital health checks such as blood pressure and temperature monitoring. It also offers a medicine delivery service to support vulnerable residents.

The Government’s extra £25.7bn investment into the NHS was welcomed – this is the biggest non-pandemic increase since 2010. But Luke agreed there is more to do to support community pharmacies in particular. During the visit, Dawn and Peter raised concerns about financial pressures in recent years impacting their ability to maintain services. The two pharmacists and 12 staff members face challenges as the pharmacy balances growing service demand with limited resources.

Luke agreed that it was “urgent” that the community pharmacy system is stabilised, and agreed to raise the matter with the Health Secretary ahead of funding negotiations due to begin soon.

Luke Myer MP said:

“Community pharmacies are a cornerstone of local healthcare. They ease pressure on GPs and hospitals, while providing vital services to residents.

“I’ve written to the Secretary of State to advocate for urgent support and progress on funding negotiations to ensure pharmacies like Harrops can continue their work.”

Harrops exemplifies the expanding role of community pharmacies, with services like the New Medicine Service (NMS) and flu vaccinations. As the government encourages pharmacies to take on additional responsibilities such as expanded Pharmacy First provision, Luke called for increased funding to stabilise the sector. He added, 

“Pharmacies are lifelines for our communities, but they need proper investment and support to thrive.”