Nearly nine in 10 council areas in England have seen pharmacies close during the last two years, new research reveals.
Analysis by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) found that pharmacy closures have hit rural areas the hardest, with some at risk of becoming ‘pharmacy deserts’.
Seventeen out of the bottom 20 areas of the country for the number of pharmacies per 100,000 people are councils covering rural areas, according to the NPA’s research.
Nearly all (95%) of the lowest 20 council areas for pharmacy provision have seen one or more pharmacy closures in the last two years.
Paul Rees, chief executive of the NPA, commented: ‘These shocking statistics show how a growing number of areas are at risk of becoming pharmacy deserts, with people in rural towns and villages having to travel longer and longer distances to get hold of the medication they need.
‘Many pharmacies are on the brink because of a decade of real term cuts, creating a material threat to the security of medicine supply in some areas if closures continue.’
The NPA is urging the Government to reverse the 40% real terms cuts to community pharmacy budgets over the last decade, which have forced over 1,500 to close and many more to cut back opening hours.
