Closures

The pharmacy minister has told MPs that community pharmacies’ “decisions to close reflect many factors” amid concerns about the declining numbers in the sector.

The Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) has warned that many of the pharmacies that were formerly part of the Lloydspharmacy estate are facing difficulties.

The multiple's parent company has revealed some 1,200 “future expected store closures” amid a 10% year-on-year pharmacy sales growth from Boots UK.

The previous health secretary has slated Wes Streeting for “casting doubt” on Pharmacy First, while he has asked her “how many pharmacies went bust on her watch”. 

Almost six thousand working days were lost to temporary pharmacy closures in 2023, new data from Healthwatch has revealed.  

“There’s not enough being spent” on community pharmacy, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has warned.

Northern Ireland has reached its lowest number of pharmacies in the past decade as dispensing volumes increase amid “additional strain and workload on community pharmacies”, data has revealed.

Health secretary Wes Streeting will “welcome” questions on community pharmacy closures and funding next week after an MP requested a pharmacy debate in parliament.  

The UK’s largest pharmacy multiple has shut 581 out of as many as 650 stores tipped for closure, its parent company’s latest filings have revealed.

Community pharmacists Ian Strachan and Shilpa Shah put questions to Channel 4’s expert panel during the television station’s health debate.