Thirteen MPs have co-signed a letter to the health secretary Victoria Atkins telling her the government must address community pharmacy’s “acute funding crisis” if the sector is to expand the services it provides to local communities across England.

The MPs told Atkins (pictured) that although pharmacies had stepped up to implement the Pharmacy First service successfully since its launch in January despite operating under “severe” pressure, improved funding is needed if they are to roll it out with more than the current seven conditions in future.

The MPs made three “urgent” calls to the government; a commitment to work with the pharmacy sector to create an economically sustainable core funding model; develop Pharmacy First by increasing the conditions it covers; extend other clinical services in pharmacies, including vaccinations, women’s health services, healthy lifestyle support and long-term condition management.

“Despite the great work pharmacies are doing, we are acutely aware of, and concerned by, the funding crisis they still face and the pressure on services, businesses and staff that this compounds,” the MPs wrote.

“This strain is in turn felt by patients and the public and will only limit their ability to receive the care they need, when they need it.”

The letter was signed by Peter Aldous, Neil Coyle, Marco Longhi, Peter Dowd, Derek Thomas, Greg Smith, Sarah Dyke, Rachael Maskell, Steve Double, Theresa Villiers, Edward Timpson, Martin Vickers and Kevin Foster.

Community Pharmacy England chief executive Janet Morrison said: “The Pharmacy First service shows once again just how much pharmacies can achieve and how much they can support patients and the wider NHS – ninety-eight per cent of pharmacies now offer the service, meaning patients have improved access their health care across the country.”

Last month, CPE hosted a parliamentary event to showcase Pharmacy First and create awareness of the financial and operational pressures facing community pharmacies.

“We are extremely grateful to all MPs who, time and time again, demonstrate their ongoing and lasting support for community pharmacies,” Morrison said.

“The signatories of this letter, as well as the many other MPs who attended the event, know that the financial pressures facing pharmacies are extreme and show no sign of improving. It is imperative that we continue to make the case to Government ministers that the sector is far from thriving and is in fact close to damage and change beyond all recognition.”