Leaked letters have revealed the true impact of the government’s cuts to community pharmacies.

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington condemned these letters..

The government had previously denied that these changes were likely to lead to pharmacy closures, with the Pharmacies Minister David Mowat telling MPs in October that “we do not believe that community pharmacies will necessarily close as a result of these cuts.”

However, leaked letters seen by The Telegraph reveal that in a letter to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote that the cut would mean that “500-900 pharmacies will close”.

Tom said: “These letters raise a very important question. ”

The Government need to urgently reconsider their plans before important and well used local pharmacies in Carshalton and Wallington close their doors.”

The Government has decided that £170 million will be cut from pharmacies in 2016/17. This massive cut could lead to the closure of one in four pharmacies – that would mean eleven in Sutton.