Some 44% of adults support the NHS making weight loss injections free through their community pharmacy, new polling commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has found.

This figure rose to 55% among those aged 16 to 34 years old, according to the survey of 2,002 UK adults carried out by market research company Savanta.

The polling comes as the government today published its long-awaited NHS 10-year plan – suggesting a ‘stronger focus’ on new weight loss treatments provided through pharmacies and an expanded clinical offering from the sector.

Related Article: Community pharmacies can provide HPV vaccination from 2026

Other findings included that 45% of respondents support expanding minor illness treatment services at their local pharmacy, while 48% back increasing the number of NHS services closer to home.

In addition, 80% of the public would be willing to go to a local GP (65%) or pharmacist (15%) for a follow-up after a hospital appointment.

And for menopause advice and treatment, 62% are willing to consult a GP or pharmacist, with 42% favouring a GP and 22% a pharmacist.

The NPA has urged the government to provide pharmacies with sufficient funding to deliver any new services expected of them as part of the 10-year plan.

Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association said: ‘This polling shows the government must listen to patients in their 10-year plan and act boldly to move care out of hospitals and into the community.

‘Pharmacies continue to go out of business due to the consequences of nearly 10 years of real-terms funding pressures.

Related Article: Starmer touts pharmacy-led weight loss jab drive in 10-year plan speech

‘This is the time to be ambitious and invest in our pharmacies to deliver more clinical services to patients than ever before, dramatically improving access to NHS care.

‘The government has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use the 10 Year Plan to turbo charge the role of community pharmacies who have a vital part to play in creating a neighbourhood health service.’

Concerns have previously been raised that women taking weight-loss injections face unknown risks of harm during pregnancy and that some online pharmacies are unscrupulously prescribing the medication.

Last week, the MHRA asked pharmacists to help identify patients for a new study examining genetic links between GLP-1 weight loss treatment and acute pancreatitis.

Related Article: MHRA alerts pharmacists to PIL error in batch of erythromycin tablets

Mr Gregg said: ‘It's clear that supply for weight loss medication will need to be carefully managed to meet demand and protect access for those people who will benefit most.’

Pharmacy bodies previously warned that it was ‘unlikely’ that the planned provision for weight loss jabs on the NHS via GPs will meet demand, causing ‘many people’ to continue seeking the medication from a pharmacy.