Kinnock: ‘Employers have a key role in making community pharmacy jobs attractive’

Kinnock: ‘Employers have a key role in making community pharmacy jobs attractive’ Health minister Stephen Kinnock has emphasised that employers have a crucial role to play in retaining staff and making careers in community pharmacy more attractive. His comments came in response to a written question from Victoria Collins MP, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for science and technology, who asked what steps the Department of Health and Social Care is taking to address staff shortages and prevent the closure of local pharmacies. New data from the House of Commons Library reveals that the number of pharmacies across England and Wales has fallen by 8%, dropping from 12,204 in September 2016 to just 11,184 by January 2025. The analysis found that 77% of the 440 constituencies across England and Wales have experienced a decline in pharmacy numbers over the past decade. Some areas have been hit particularly hard — with Feltham and Heston, Bristol East, and Newbury each losing around a third of their pharmacies. The Liberal Democrats, who commissioned the research, warned that \"pharmacy deserts\" are becoming \"normalised\" and urged the government to introduce urgent support measures, including tax relief for pharmacies. “The government recognises that pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system,” said Kinnock. “We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.” “Employers clearly have a key role in retaining staff and making jobs in community pharmacy attractive.” “To support employers, NHS England has provided a number of fully funded national training opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help support private contractors to deliver quality National Health Services, including Pharmacy First.”