Two dozen parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have called on the prime minister to act as a wave of pharmacy closures in recent years has
threatened to spiral out of control.
A letter to the prime minister signed by 24 MPs and peers has warned that worse could be yet to come after "spiralling business costs" and "year after year of real
terms funding cuts" have led to hundreds of pharmacy closures.
New data from the PSNC shows that over 639 local pharmacies have been lost in England since 2016.
"This is the equivalent to just short of one pharmacy closure per constituency", the cross-party group warned.
The letter comes as MPs came together at a parliamentary summit to call for pharmacies to be embraced as a "game-changer" for tackling healthcare backlogs and taking
pressure off other areas of the NHS. A 'Future of Pharmacy' event was attended by 53 parliamentarians on July 5 in the Palace of Westminster.
At the event parliamentarians heard directly from frontline pharmacists and representatives of pharmacy bodies where a map of constituency-specific pharmacy numbers
was also unveiled, with details of the number of pharmacy closures in MPs' local area.
A recent survey conducted by YouGov for the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has highlighted concerning trends in the community pharmacy sector.
The survey published on July 18 and conducted over two days in June this year reveals the subsequent challenges patients face due to the increasing pharmacy
closure rates.
The survey findings, conducted among 2,183 UK adults, indicates that 18 per cent of the respondents reported at least one pharmacy closure in their local area
within the past year.
Specifically, 12 per cent respondents noted closure of one pharmacy, while 6 per cent observed the shutdown of more than one.
These closures are distributed across various regions, underscoring a nationwide issue rather than an isolated one.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA)'s analysis on permanent closures of community pharmacies in England showed that there has been a net loss of 670
pharmacies between 2015 and 2022.
The analysis highlighted that 37 per cent of permanent closures of pharmacies and GP practices have occurred in the 20 per cent most deprived parts of England.
Current trends indicate that primary care 'cold spots' could soon emerge - areas where there is significantly reduced or inadequate access to a pharmacy or a GP.
The CCA's analysis shows that some of the most deprived neighbourhoods concentrated in the North West, the West Midlands and Yorkshire have faced the highest losses
of local pharmacies and GP practices since 2015.
It demonstrates that the trend of permanent closures amongst pharmacies and GP practices is worsening. Moreover, this burden is likely to be felt unevenly with
permanent closures occurring disproportionately in areas of high deprivation. Without action, deprived communities, where need is typically greater, may no longer
be able to access the GP and pharmacy services they require.
YouGov polling commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has revealed that majority of the people responding to the poll said
that they would be concern by the pharmacy closure in their locality.
The results show the extent of the public backing for a Pharmacy First approach - PSNC has been arguing that a fully-funded service would be beneficial for pharmacies,
patients and the wider NHS.
The poll witnessed 1,774 adults' participation from England. It showed 68 per cent of people agree that they would find it easier to seek health advice for common
conditions, such as skin conditions or indigestion, at a community pharmacy rather than a GP surgery. Only 11 per cent disagreed that this would be easier.
While 75 per cent of people agree that they would like to see community pharmacies offering more healthcare services such as treating urinary tract infections or
sore throats. Only 6 per cent strongly disagreed with this.
When asked how important, if at all, are the services provided by community pharmacies to them, their family, or community, 78 per cent indicted this was very
important. Only 14 per cent said this wasn't important.
77 per cent said they would be very concerned if the pharmacy they use most often were to close permanently. Only 19 per cent said they would not be very concerned.
The Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) has expressed its interest to support pharmacists impacted with the latest announcement of the closure of Tesco
pharmacies.
"Tesco have followed ASDA and LloydsPharmacy (at Sainsbury's) to announce cost cutting changes to their stores, impacting hundreds of jobs," the association said.
The PDA's interests in the announcement relate to the planned closure of eight in-store Tesco pharmacies and the impact of those closures upon pharmacists, however
the union is of course concerned for all those impacted.
The PDA Union will support individual PDA members impacted by the decision so that they are aware of, and can exercise, their rights at work in relation to this
situation.
Paul Day, PDA Union Director said, "In addition to the immediate impact on pharmacists employed at the stores marked for closure, this is the third instance in just
twelve days of reductions in the overall access to a pharmacy for NHS patients. We expect those who represent communities to be concerned about the loss of a key
part of their local NHS service."
The UK has witnessed a nearly 50 percent increase in pharmacy closures this year compared to the same period in 2023, which was already considered the
worst year in recent memory.
A new analysis by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) revealed that 177 pharmacies closed their doors between January and April 2024, compared to 116 in the
same period last year. This is the equivalent of 10 local pharmacies shutting down every week.
Analysis of NHS figures by the NPA showed that 403 pharmacies closed their doors last year, nearly five times higher than the number that closed in 2022.
Since 2017, over 1,400 pharmacies have shut down across the UK.
Rising costs and declining real terms funding have led to the fastest rate of closures in decades, said the NPA, highlighting that "real terms funding has
decreased by 40 per cent over the last decade."
There is clear evidence that the majority of distance selling pharmacies are operating in breach of their NHS contracts, and a failure to properly
regulate 'pseudo' distance selling pharmacies is leading to local pharmacy closures, the Company Chemists' Association has reported.
According to the CCA's recent findings, 72 per cent of DSPs dispense over 50 per cent of their prescriptions to patients within a single postcode area within
10 miles of the pharmacy.
"Operating within constrained geographical regions, pseudo-DSPs achieve reduced overheads and operational costs by focusing on localised marketing and medicine
delivery. They compete against local brick-and-mortar pharmacies, causing them to lose vital trade," the CCA claimed, based on its recent survey - The Impact of
Pseudo Distance Selling Pharmacies.
"As per their terms of service, DSPs are obligated to provide prescription delivery nationwide, extending beyond local patients," said the CCA, adding that the
financial savings resulting from the lack of patient access are balanced by the necessity to function on a national scale.
The pharmacy chain has already announced plans to permanently close hundreds of its branches across the UK to consolidate its portfolio of 2,200 stores to 1,900.
Two of its branches in North Wales will be closed next year, with its site in Rhos on Sea set to close its doors in March 2024 and the shop in Colywn Bay the
following month.
In a statement obtained by The Sun, Clwyd West MP David Jones has branded the closures "hugely bad news for the local community".
He added that it is not "a case of simple shop closures," but "another body blow for the local retail economy."
The Station Road shopping centre, where the Colwyn Bay store is located, has already seen the closure of several other prominent stores, including WHSmith, the MP
stated.
The closure of two Boots stores will leave many people "extremely worried as to how they will be able to obtain essential medicines," he added.
Responding to an MP's question in the House of Commons, prime minister Rishi Sunak reiterated his deep concern for the future of UK community pharmacies,
stressing their commitment to enhancing the sector with an additional £645 million in funding through the Pharmacy First initiative.
At the recent Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday, Angela Richardson, the Conservative MP for Guildford, raised the issue of rising pharmacy closures,
revealing that Guildford recently lost two neighbouring pharmacies.
Highlighting that empowering local pharmacies is a key part of this government's plan to cut waiting lists, she asked Sunak whether he would agree that it is
vital for residents to have access to "a good, efficient, and above all, local pharmacy."
In response, Sunak said: "I care deeply about the future of our community pharmacies."
A snap survey conducted by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) revealed that over half of community pharmacy teams have felt unsafe in the past week
due to ongoing riots across the country.
The survey, which included responses from approximately 350 community pharmacies, also found that one in three pharmacies had considered closing because of
safety concerns, while 13 per cent of pharmacy teams reported experiencing racist comments during this period.
According to the NPA, over 40 per cent of pharmacists are of South Asian, Black, or other ethnic minority backgrounds, with the majority of independent community
pharmacy owners believed to be of South Asian heritage.
The association reports that businesses had been vandalised during the riots, leading some pharmacies to reduce their opening hours or close entirely, following
advice from the police and local authorities.
Despite a recent decline in disorder over the last few days, police have been advised to remain on high alert over the weekend.
Boots customers were left disappointed as the retail giant closed three more branches, two in Kent and one in Glasgow.
On Sunday 21 January, Boots' branches in Cliftonville and Biggin Hill were closed, forcing locals to find an alternative pharmacy, Express.co.uk reported.
Cliftonville residents have taken to social media to express their disappointment over the closure of their local pharmacy on Northdown Road.
Even though there is another Boots branch in Margate, they said that Cliftonville branch is "much more accessible, with parking available right outside, on
the bus route and surrounded by a residential area within easy walking distance."
One resident has branded the retailer's decision as "crazy", as per the news portal.
In the parliamentary drop-in-event hosted by Community Pharmacy England last week, Members of Parliament (MPs) questioned the Health Secretary on the rising
issue of medicines supply.
"Eighteen community pharmacists in my constituency are reporting challenges on medicine supplies. What more is the Minister going to do to get a grip of this
situation?", Mike Amesbury MP for Weaver Vale, who was present at the event last week, asked the Health Secretary.
In his response, the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay MP said: "We have a long-standing team in the Department focused on medical supplies, which are a continual
issue; as a matter of routine business, there are often challenges in that area."
The Shadow Pharmacy Minister, Karin Smyth MP, also asked: "People across the country rely on local, accessible pharmacies, but whether it is high street closures
or supply problems leading to the absurd situation where women are phoning or visiting multiple pharmacies for a prescribed dose of hormone replacement therapy and
other drugs…They have repeatedly announced plans to expand the role of community pharmacies but have failed to update legislation that could possibly help. … Why
will they not do so?
Over a century-year-old Boots pharmacy in St James's Street, Brighton shut its doors permanently on Saturday (20 January) leaving the communities disappointed.
The branch in Kemp Town, which was opened to the public for the first time in 1914, was supposed to close on November 19 last year but continued trading into
the new year, The Argus reported.
Locals are not happy with the retailer's decision to close the store as some say it used to be "always busy with prescriptions and people buying things."
Another person recalled that Boots had earlier closed two pharmacies, one on Lewes Road, Brighton, and another on Church Road, Hove.
The American-owned health and wellbeing chain is in the process of closing more UK branches in the coming months as it's targeting to reduce its store portfolio
to 1,900 from 2,200.
Boots has shut down three more stores, as it moves forward with its plan to close 300 stores across the UK over the next 12 months.
On Saturday (18 November), Boots closed its branches in Mudge Way, Plymouth; Mount Pleasant Road, Exeter; and Low Moor Road, Kirkby, Ashfield.
The NHS issued a memo to shoppers and patients who use the Plymouth branch, which is located next to Plympton Health Centre, to inform them that "you will
need to find and nominate another pharmacy to dispense your prescriptions going forward."
Patients can set their nomination by contacting their new pharmacy and requesting "they do this for you."
According to DevonLive, a note was attached to the Mount Pleasant pharmacy door that read: "Boots Mount Pleasant Store will close on Saturday, November 18 2023.
Pharmacies lead among the list of 16 'most essential' services required for a neighbourhood, as revealed by the 2023 Community Barometer survey commissioned
by the Association of Convenience Stores.
In June, ACS commissioned Yonder Consulting to conduct a poll surveying the opinions of 1,000 people across the UK. The survey assessed how these individuals value
16 different services in their local area, defined as the region within a 15-minute walk from their homes.
The survey's essential services included pharmacies, post offices, convenience stores, banks, petrol stations, restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, specialist food
shops, non-food shops, fast food shops, vape shops, charity shops, pawnbrokers, hairdressers, and gyms or sports facilities.
A Boots UK branch store in Hinckley town centre closed 'until further notice' as there was 'no pharmacist available' to work on Monday (May 9).
A local news report said: "The sign on the door reads: "Unfortunately, we are unable to open until further notice. We are working hard to get this rectified.
"We apologise for the inconvenience. Hearing care appointments please wait here to be greeted.""
LeicestershireLive reported a patient saying that their appointment for a hearing aid check had been postponed until Tuesday.
It added: "The customer was surprised to be told by staff that the store had to close as there was no pharmacist available."