Widespread pharmacy closures impact older people and rural communities, Healthwatch report reveals

A worrying rise in pharmacy closures across England is disproportionately affecting older people and rural communities, according to a new report by
Healthwatch England.

Findings obtained through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests have exposed the scale of the issue, with over 436 permanent pharmacy closures recorded in
2023 and more than 13,800 temporary closures resulting in nearly 47,000 hours lost.

The report, published on Thursday, paints a bleak picture of access to vital healthcare services, particularly in rural areas where pharmacy closures have hit
hardest. The report found that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in rural areas recorded a higher level of temporary pharmacy closures compared to ICBs in predominantly
urban areas.

Additionally, ICBs with a higher proportion of people over 60 years of age recorded a higher number of hours lost per pharmacy.

Healthwatch chief executive Louise Ansari expressed concern about the impact on elderly populations, noting that the closures were undermining the government’s
flagship Pharmacy First programme, designed to relieve pressure on GP practices by allowing patients to seek care for common conditions at local pharmacies.