Almost 50% of community pharmacy contractors state their Pharmacy is at danger of closing within the year

A report from the Parliamentary All-Party Pharmacy Group (APPG) on Pharmacy has discovered that almost fifty per cent of community pharmacy contractors state their Pharmacy is at danger of closing within the year.

Following the report, there was an inquiry by the APPG into the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy teams and Pharmacy itself. The APPG surveyed one-thousand, six-hundred and four pharmacy professionals, including pharmacy managers (23%), pharmacy contractors (26%) pharmacy assistants (12%), pharmacists (21%), pharmacy technicians (10%) and respondents from other pharmacy roles (9%).

Forty-seven per cent of pharmacy contractors stated that it was very likely, likely or somewhat likely that their Pharmacy would close within the coming year.

Chair of the APPG, Jackie Doyle-Price, stated: “The public rightly recognise pharmacy teams continue to lift heaven and earth to remain open and ensure the safe supply of medicines during the pandemic. But people would be shocked to hear that unprecedented financial pressure is now pushing many pharmacies to close. The innovations and adaptations quickly put in place by pharmacy teams demonstrate the unique skills pharmacists have to do even more.”

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) English Pharmacy Board, Claire Anderson, stated: “We know that teams were already under pressure and that colleagues in community pharmacy are feeling added financial strain.”

Chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIM), Leyla Hannbeck, stated: “Our members have recently had visits from the chancellor Rishi Sunak and financial secretary to the treasury, Jesse Norman and both have expressed their support for community pharmacy and the important role pharmacy teams have played in the pandemic.”