Temporary closures for pharmacies
First geographical breakdown of pharmacy closures
Earlier this year, Healthwatch England submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) asking them about permanent and temporary pharmacy closures, following concerns raised by the public and local Healthwatch.
In 2022-23, there were 11,414 community pharmacies in England. However, our data obtained from all 42 ICBs revealed that 436 pharmacies closed permanently in England between 1 January and 31 December 2023. This means that, on average, over one pharmacy closed permanently every day.
During the same period, 13,863 temporary closures were reported across 41 ICBs, resulting in 46,823 hours lost and an average closure length of three hours and 40 minutes.
Most ICBs reported staff shortages, such as problems finding a locum, as the main cause of temporary closures.
Who's affected the most?
The findings suggest that ICBs in rural areas recorded a higher level of temporary pharmacy closures compared to ICBs in predominantly urban areas.
Additionally, ICBs with a higher proportion of people over 60 years of age recorded a higher number of hours lost per pharmacy.
See a map of pharmacy closures in England.
Temporary closures undermine Pharmacy First
The findings come further to media coverage about the increasing rate of pharmacy closures. Analysis of the General Pharmaceutical Council's data has showed that deprived areas have lost proportionally more pharmacies than less deprived areas.
Our research shows that temporary closures are adding to the mounting problems in the pharmacy sector, calling into doubt the success of the Pharmacy First programme. Launched in January, the programme allows people to get care for seven common conditions to relieve pressure on GP practices, but the ongoing closures are making it harder for people to access medications and care.
"Our research has shown that temporary pharmacy closures present a widespread challenge in England.
“This issue is having huge impacts on older people and is particularly acute in rural regions where people already have to travel further to visit their pharmacist.
“Staff shortages, the key driver of permanent and temporary closures, call into doubt the potential of Pharmacy First, meaning people can’t get the advice, care and medications they need and when they need them.
"We know that people's frustration often stems from not being informed about pharmacy closures in advance. Better signposting that pharmacies will be closed and setting out alternatives would go some way to improving patient experience.
"However, in the longer term, action must be taken to address staff shortages and unequal access. A national evaluation of pharmacy funding and the size, role-mix and distribution of the pharmacy workforce is necessary to improve planning of pharmacy services."
Read the briefing
Our next steps
Our GP Access report shows that there is follow-up work to do. Healthcare partners want to promote the message that patients should visit the pharmacist instead of GP for a range of healthcare issues.
In order to do this, Healthwatch Brent will be undertaking a project working with pharmacies and patients to evaluate the quality of care.
