Hundreds are backing a campaign to save Elstree’s only pharmacy.

Manor Pharmacy, in Elstree Hill, could have its £40,000 annual grant cut from NHS England, leaving it unable to survive.

Pharmacist manager Sarya Ali and the rest of the team have collected 60 signatures from customers and councillors who are desperate for it not to close.

The 29-year-old said: “Without that annual grant, we wouldn’t be able to support ourselves and it would leave so many in a difficult situation.

“People who come here desperately need us. It’s convenient for disabled and elderly people who can’t walk long distances. Without us they would be lost.

“It’s a little village and there’s nowhere else for anywhere to go. People have been left so upset by this - a pharmacy is such an essential service and we’re devastated it could be taken away.

“They rely on us so much.”

The pharmacy is known as an ‘essential pharmacy’ but this title would be rescinded if its grant were to be cut.

A normal pharmacy needs to dispense around 5,000 prescriptions to survive without help from the NHS, but Manor currently completes 2,000.

Ms Ali added: “On the face of it, it seems trade isn’t good because we don’t dispense that many prescriptions but we don’t rely on walk-ins or anything like that.

“It’s just about giving people their medicine. It’s great because we often drop people’s prescriptions to them, but we wouldn’t be able to afford that without the grant either.

“We don’t want to force people to go out of their way.”

The nearest alternative pharmacy is in Borehamwood, but for many this would require walking up a long hill or taking the bus, which can be time-consuming, costly and hard for disabled people.

Manor Pharmacy was opened 30 years ago and current owner Graham Phillips bought it ten years ago. Since then, it has won a range of awards from various organisations including the NHS.

He now plans to submit an appeal, along with the petition, to the NHS.

He said: “It’s going to have an impact on a lot of people because even though we are a small pharmacy, a lot of people depend on us.

“We are committed to quality and have a 98 per cent satisfaction rates from our patients which is great.

“Why is this even up for debate? It’s a no brainer.”

The Times Series is awaiting a comment from NHS England.