A BOTLEY Road pharmacist recognised by the Prime Minister for his commitment to patients during Oxford floods took to the street yesterday to protest Government cuts to pharmacies.

Woodlands Pharmacy owner Pupinder Ghatora said the plans to cut six per cent of funding, which would see a minimum annual reduction of £15,000, could force independents to close.

Mr Ghatora, who has owned the pharmacy for ten years, said: "We are told that pharmacies are going to be at the front line of the NHS.

"People are told to go and see their pharmacist if it is not life-threatening to save the burden on A&E and GPs.

"But how will we be able to do this when our income is being cut? It is ridiculous.

"My job is to make sure people get the medication they need, which is why when the floods happened we were out in wellies delivering insulin to patients who couldn't get to us."

The cuts will be implemented in October and more than 300 residents have signed Mr Ghatora's paper petition in the past week.

Oxford City Council member for Jericho and Osney Susanna Pressel said: "I am so glad Pupinder is fighting back against the Government's iniquitous plans to cut the money they give to subsidise our local pharmacies.

"Well over a hundred local residents came along today to show their support for him, which proves that they hold him in enormously high regard.

"Countless people have told me how he is always ready to go the extra mile to help people in need, for instance delivering medicine to those who are too ill to come and get it. "It would be terrible if the shop had to close."