The National Pharmacy Association will provide pharmacies in England with what it describes as “fair funding campaign” packs this week in an attempt to impress upon MPs that a “fair new deal” for contractors should be a “key issue” in the general election.

The NPA hopes pharmacies pass the packs, which contain campaign posters, stickers and postcards, to patients to send to their MPs. The NPA, who again warned that 10 pharmacies are closing each week, said the packs will also contain petition materials to “boost” the #SaveOurPharmacies campaign.

NPA chief executive Paul Rees said the campaign materials will make it “easier for pharmacies to raise their voices and be heard” and insisted it will allow their patients and communities to “take this opportunity to show their support for vital local services.”

“Pharmacies are under crushing financial pressure. We want to help them join our efforts to raise the profile of the funding crisis and make the public and politicians fully aware of the threat to our much-loved pharmacy network,” he said.

“We want to make policy-makers and NHS managers sit up, take notice, and take action to save our pharmacies. We’ll do that by relentlessly focussing attention on the amazing work of pharmacies and the real threat to this vital national network from continued underfunding.”

The NPA said it is “working with other pharmacy leaders on mobilising public support ahead of the general election.”

“The intention is to influence public and political opinion, to give the best possible conditions for successful contractual negotiations in England,” it said, promising to provide material to support pharmacies in the other home nations.