Number of pharmacies in England drops 160 in two years – extra might shut with out authorities funding

The variety of pharmacies in England has dropped by 160 over the previous two years with warnings extra are anticipated to shut until the Government supplies ‘pressing’ funding to the ‘struggling’ sector.

There at the moment are simply 11,026 neighborhood chemists – the bottom quantity since 2015 – in accordance with BBC evaluation of knowledge from the NHS Business Services Authority.

Staff shortages, rising operational prices and decreased monetary assist have been blamed for the drop, which comes amid rising affected person demand.

The warnings preceded right now’s announcement of a significant enlargement of excessive road pharmacy providers, alongside a £645million Government funding.

Leyla Hannbeck, chief govt of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, mentioned workforce challenges have led to many pharmacies shutting their doorways ‘for good’ since 2015, when the sector noticed a ‘massive’ lower in funding.

Tough: Many pharmacists run at a loss (inventory picture)

She advised BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday: ‘We predict that this 12 months many extra will do the identical until the Government comes out and injects pharmacy with some liquidity and funding to maintain the sector going.’

Ms Hannbeck mentioned there’s a £1.1billion shortfall in funding yearly which has resulted in lots of pharmacies working at a loss and struggling to pay drugs wholesalers’ payments.

‘This has led to many pharmacies severely battling cashflow issues,’ she added. ‘For pharmacists to maintain their head above the water one thing must be carried out urgently.’

Thorrun Govind, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, cited elevated staffing, power and drug prices as a number of the points the sector is dealing with.

She advised BBC One’s Breakfast present that pharmacies in England might and wish to do ‘a lot extra’.

‘When I’m working within the pharmacy there’s typically events the place I do know what remedy is required however I am unable to present it as a result of I’m hindered by the system that I’m working in,’ Ms Govind advised the BBC.

She added that elevated funding for pharmacies would additionally enhance workers retention – with employees at present prone to ‘burnout’ – and sort out well being inequalities.

‘Pharmacists are actually accessible – a few 20-minute stroll for most individuals – and the workers there are typically from the communities from the place they’re working so really well being inequalities are additionally being tackled when we’ve got pharmacies open,’ she mentioned.

She added pharmacies might present common assist for sufferers with long-term circumstances and assist folks with frequent illnesses – equivalent to coughs, colds, flus and sore throats – to ease the burden on GPs.