A PHARMACY in Ashton-under-Lyne welcomed its local MP for a candid conversation about the growing pressures that community pharmacies are facing and the crucial role they play.
Angela Rayner has met with staff from Cohens Chemist on Albion Street, who highlighted the realities behind the counter.
They described a picture that is familiar across Tameside – rising demand, medicine shortages, and a workforce stretched thin.
Between January and April 2025, Ashton’s 19 independent pharmacies carried out 171 contraception consultations, 6,270 new medicine consultations, and delivered an average of 392 flu vaccinations per pharmacy, a figure above the national average.
They have also been central to the Pharmacy First scheme, which enables pharmacies to treat seven common conditions – a service that helped prevent 4,126 GP appointments in Ashton between January 2024 and April 2025.
But the numbers tell only part of the story. Staff shared concerns about persistent supply issues, with some essential medicines only available at prices far above the Drug Tariff, forcing pharmacies to absorb the difference themselves.
They also described mounting workload pressures, with around 95 per cent of pharmacy teams reporting strain linked to staffing shortages, disrupted supply chains, and long-term underfunding.
MP Rayner has emphasised the importance of community pharmacies and pointed to the Government’s £3 billion funding settlement.
“Pharmacies are a vital part of our local communities,” she said. “The highly trained and dedicated staff are often the first and most accessible point of contact people have with the NHS.
“It was great to visit Cohens Chemist and hear directly from the team about the incredible work they do every day – from delivering vaccinations to providing advice and treatment that helps people get the care they need quickly.
“Pharmacists have faced more than a decade of underfunding and growing pressures. The Government’s record funding settlement for community pharmacies is an important first step in addressing those challenges, but it’s essential that these highly skilled and trusted professionals remain at the heart of local healthcare as we strengthen primary care and move more services into the community.”