The plight of a Cockermouth chemist which feels threatened by Government cuts was highlighted in parliament.

Ministers are considering cutting NHS funding to pharmacies by £170 million later this year.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Workington MP Sue Hayman asked David Cameron: "More than 2,000 people have signed a petition started by Allisons Chemist in Cockermouth calling on the Government not to cut the funding of community pharmacies. 

"Isn’t it time the Prime Minister and his government supported independent pharmacies like Allisons, which are a vital lifeline for our community, and help to keep our high streets alive?"

Mr Cameron replied: "We are supporting rural pharmacies, there is a specific scheme to help there.

"But if we look at the last five years there was a massive increase in pharmacy spending and as we make sure that as much of the NHS resources go to the frontline and doctors and nurses and operations and A and E we have got make sure we are getting value for money in pharmacy while at the same time protecting rural pharmacies."

Up to 3,000 pharmacies are expected to close if the planned cuts go ahead.

Nat Mitchell, JWW Allison pharmacist, said previously: "The ones with less resources will get squeezed out.

"When 90 per cent of your income comes from NHS services, you can see how such indiscriminate cuts will destroy the smaller pharmacies.

"If we lose a massive chunk of our income it will have an effect."

A petition set up by the National Pharmaceutical Association calls for the Government to abandon the plans which will impact on what it calls "a vital frontline service which is part of the fabric of communities across England". 

Mrs Hayman was not satisfied with Mr Cameron's answer.

She said: "First of all, I was talking about independent pharmacies so he did not actually answer the questions.

"Also, I did not realise there was a specific scheme for rural pharmacies so I've been trying to find out what that involves. It's actually a consultation into a scheme to support isolated rural pharmacies, so not a scheme. And it does not support independent community pharmacies but isolated rural ones.

"I'm going to write to the Prime Minister and express my concerns with his response and ask him what he will do to support independent pharmacies like Allisons."