A Cockermouth chemist has slammed proposed funding cuts which would put community pharmacies at risk.

The Government wants to save £170 million from pharmacies.

The Department of Health is proposing to cut funding by 12 per cent from December, sparking opposition from pharmacy representatives.

Under the plans, funding for the following year would be cut by 7.4 per cent on current levels.

Nat Mitchell, pharmacist at JWW Allison, said: “We went through all this a few months ago and had a lot of support and backing over the cuts because people realise the pressure we’re under.

“It seemed with the change of government and Prime Minister that they would have a pause and think about it, but they pushed on without any regard for public opinion.

“My opinion personally is that the decision on the cuts was made and then they made the reasons afterwards.”

Mr Mitchell said the proposals might suit cities with more competition but was concerned rural areas like West Cumbria had not been thought about.

“You can’t tell people to go to their pharmacy first then cut the funding for them and put them at risk,” he said.

“You don’t want to exaggerate and say we will shut but it is a reality that some pharmacies will, and small ones like us are at the most risk.”

Workington MP Sue Hayman raised concerns during a parliamentary debate on community pharmacies this week about the effect that funding cuts would have in Cumbria.

Mrs Hayman has asked to meet the pharmacies minister to discuss her concerns further.

She said: “Pharmacies have the potential to help the NHS become more efficient and community-based – an integral part of the Integrated Care Communities that the Success Regime in Cumbria is promoting, taking pressure off overstretched GPs and A&Es.

“We really struggle to recruit doctors in Cumbria, so any loss of community pharmacies is a serious loss to our community.”