Pharmacy cuts hit rural care access, report finds

Pharmacies across the south west have lost more than 134,000 hours in care over the last two years, figures have found.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said rural areas had been badly hit, with some forced to cut their opening hours or close altogether - it blamed 40% of cuts to funding in last decade.

Nearly 800 pharmacies have permanently closed in England over the last four years, with pharmacists blaming NHS funding - which they say had not risen in real terms in a decade.

The Department of Health said it was committed to working closely with pharmacists to agree a package of funding that was reflective of the important support they provided to patients.

NPA chair Nick Kaye said the situation could worsen if funds were not provided "immediately".

He said: "These are shocking figures which show that millions of patients have lost access to pharmacies who provide vital medication and care on their doorsteps.

"It is particularly concerning to see rural areas continuing to lose pharmacy time, which will force vulnerable isolated patients to travel further for the care they need."

Cornwall has seen 41,000 hours of pharmacy time lost in the last two years and also a spike in closures in 2024 - Devon saw a loss of 49,000 hours in time.

Ian Bloxham, pharmacist at Hendra Pharmacy in Penryn, said it was hard to make ends meet.

He said: "Last year we made a loss, each year it gets progressively worse to actually make the business viable - we desperately need an injection of funds in order to stop all the pharmacies closing."

Mr Bloxham added: "Because what the government pay us is a fixed level, there are items where we actually lose money.

"Sometimes it's a couple of pounds, there have been instances where one single item could actually lose you say £50 or £60 - that's not sustainable."

One man at the pharmacy said he needed it to stay open as he was "most days picking up stuff" for his wife and mother-in-law.

"Without this service we'd be in absolute trouble," he added.

A woman said it was "vital" to have pharmacies in the community: "Being able to get them straight away and start getting better straight away, it's really important."

Sian Retallick, south west representative for pharmacy contractors, said the region was suffering.

She said: "The number of pharmacies open in England is now the lowest it's been since 2008, whilst the annual prescriptions have been growing by over 40%.

"In Plymouth in particular, we have the lowest number of pharmacies per head of population in England."

Stephen Kinnock, the Minister of State for Care, said community pharmacists were "at the heart of local healthcare".

He said: "We have inherited a sector that is suffering from years of underfunding and neglect, but we recognise the hard work pharmacists undertake every day to deliver for patients.

"I am committed to working closely with Community Pharmacy England to agree a package of funding that is reflective of the important support that they provide to patients up and down the country."

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