On Saturday, with Cllr Emma Corlett, I visited the pharmacy on Hall Road. We were there to discuss the problems facing Norfolk Pharmacies following the Government’s Plans for reducing funding in 2016/2017. A £170 million non-negotiable reduction, which is 6% of total funding, was announced on December 17th 2015.

It was clear listening to the pharmacists that, once again, the government’s plans are ill advised and poorly thought through. These community pharmacists provide an invaluable service to their communities, not just dispensing medication (over 1 billion prescriptions annually) but providing care and advice, vaccinations and specific care for the frail and elderly. They also help to prevent unnecessary visits to doctors’ surgeries, and to A&E.