COMMUNITY pharmacies are to receive a £300million cash injection to ensure they can carry on providing vital services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The funding injection will support pharmacies across England, including those in Stourbridge, and will help them to provide critical services to protect community health, including supplying medicines and providing medical advice to patients, during a period of unprecedented demand.

£200 million was paid on April 1 to pharmacy contractors, alongside their normal monthly payments from the NHS Business Services Authority, and a further £100 million will be allocated on May 1.

Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role and will be needed now more than ever.

“People rely on expert advice from trained professionals who can provide key information at a time we need it most.

“Not only that, but I know residents build a rapport with their local pharmacists and place a huge amount of trust in them to give the right advice and help.

“Therefore, I am thrilled with the £300 million cash boost for community pharmacists, which I am in no doubt will help the people of Stourbridge.”

In addition to the funding, the Department of Health and Social Care has reduced the number of services community pharmacies are required to deliver to allow them to prioritise the most important tasks, but they will continue to receive their full NHS funding.

During this time, pharmacies will not be required to pilot new services or carry out non-critical administrative tasks.

The Department has also called on pharmacy professionals who have recently left professional registers to return to work.