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The NPA has stepped up its defense of pharmacy against the looming government cuts with the launch of a paper petition to Prime Minister, David Cameron.

€There is already a parliamentary e-petition in circulation and I encourage you all to support it. The petition we are announcing today is different for a number of €Žimportant reasons,€ said NPA chairman, Ian Strachan.

€Firstly, it is not targeted at parliament €“ instead, it will appeal directly to the heart of Government: No 10 Downing Street. Secondly, it is a paper based petition rather than an electronic petition; we know that for many people, including elderly patients, this is the preferred way to express their support.€

The petition is just the NPA's latest step is an €intensification of efforts to counter the Government's misguided approach€.

Speaking at the launch of the petition, Mr Strachan praised the amount of customers that pharmacies have encouraged to send local pharmacy support postcards, saying: €We intended to fill the mail bags of MPs across England. What a success your efforts in this phase of the campaign are delivering! Many pharmacies are completing 50+ in a day and ordering more cards. Many have initiated visits by local MPs to visit the pharmacy, so well done.€

The pharmacy body had already appealed for all independents to write to their MPs to 'raise awareness of the value that local pharmacies bring to patients and whole communities.'