Family-owned pharmacies are experiencing closures predominantly in lower-income regions, leading to the emergence of “pharmacy deserts.” According to an analysis by the National Pharmacy Association, over 1,400 community pharmacies have closed since 2016, with a significant concentration of closures in areas with higher poverty rates based on NHS pharmacy data weighted by population.
Nearly 90% of council areas have witnessed the permanent closure of at least one pharmacy in the past three years, a trend exacerbated by funding cuts for pharmacists by the Tory government starting in 2016. Liverpool tops the list of areas with the most pharmacy closures, followed by York, Blackpool, Wakefield, Coventry, and Kingston Upon Hull.
West Berkshire and Wokingham are identified as the areas with the lowest pharmacy provision per capita, making them pharmacy deserts. The Mirror is actively campaigning to preserve family-owned pharmacies and halt the closure trend, which is straining overburdened GPs. The National Pharmacy Association warns that the pharmacy network in 2025 is at its weakest point in two decades, with one in ten pharmacies closing in the last ten years.
Henry Gregg, CEO of the National Pharmacy Association, expressed concern over the worsening access to essential medication and care for patients, particularly in deprived communities hit hardest by recent waves of pharmacy closures. The Labour party’s injection of £617 million into the pharmacy sector marks the first substantial funding increase since 2014, aimed at expanding the Pharmacy First scheme, allowing individuals with seven common conditions to directly consult pharmacists for ailments like sinusitis, sore throat, and earache.
While acknowledging the government’s recent steps, Mr. Gregg emphasizes the need for continued progress. The Pharmacy First initiative has already provided consultations for five million patients in England, reducing the strain on GP appointments. NHS England encourages more patients to utilize the scheme, which has successfully treated numerous individuals for common ailments like sore throats through pharmacist consultations.
Dr. Wendy Taylor of the Local Government Association underscores the importance of pharmacies in providing vital healthcare services, especially in deprived areas where they serve as a crucial point of contact with the NHS.