Chancellor funds pharmacies to open this Friday due to COVID-19

GPs required to open will be reimbursed for treating the Bank Holiday as a normal working day, and community pharmacies will be directed to open from 2-5pm.

The coronavirus outbreak has seen a surge in demand for these vital services, with the government also giving up tp £56 million last month to ensure GP surgeries and pharmacies could remain open over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.  

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP said:

“Growing up, working in my parent’s pharmacy in school holidays, I saw how much the local community depended on them in times of need.

“GPs and pharmacies are providing a vital service to patients across the country during this unprecedented outbreak – which is why we ensuring they can remain open on the Bank Holiday.

“I want to thank doctors and pharmacists for all their hard work fighting coronavirus – we are so grateful to them.”

NHSEI will reimburse GPs and pharmacies that open in areas where patients need these services most, and the Treasury is providing the devolved administrations with over £6 million through the Barnett formula.