Regions across the UK “have been decimated by the loss of pharmacies leading to a stark postcode lottery”, new data commissioned by the Liberal Democrats last week (April 18) revealed.
Analysis of NHS England (NHSE) dispensary data by the House of Commons Library found that between September 2016 – the year that substantial cuts hit the sector – and January 2025, England and Wales lost a net 1,020 pharmacies.
Over the period, more than three-quarters (440) of English and Welsh constituencies saw a decline in pharmacy numbers, it said.
Read more: IN FULL: Number of pharmacies drops below 10,000 in 20-year first
And just 11% (65) of constituencies experienced an increase in pharmacy numbers, it added.
“Five constituencies now have less than 10 pharmacies caring for patients across the entire area while others have close to 70,” the political party said.
“Staggering falls”
The data revealed “staggering falls in the number of pharmacies in some areas”, the Lib Dems said.
The constituency with the most pharmacies lost over the period was the Cities of London and Westminster, which was down 22 pharmacies by January 2025, it added.
Read more: Well launches ‘non-core’ branch-axing programme amid £14m loss
It said that Birmingham Ladywood - which lost 11 pharmacies - and Blackburn - down 10 - were the second and third areas most affected by closures.
Meanwhile, pharmacy numbers across Wales rose in the period, with Rhondda and Ogmore gaining 19 pharmacies and Aberafan Maesteg seeing an influx of 17, the data showed.
Pharmacy deserts “normalised”
“As these pharmacy deserts become normalised, we risk putting hospitals already on the brink under even more pressure,” Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan said.
“The Conservatives’ shameful neglect brought us to this point,” she added.
“But the Labour government’s decision to hammer pharmacies once again with damaging jobs tax risks making the situation so much worse,” she stressed.
Read more: NICs hike: Has anything changed for pharmacies post contract?
“With so many pharmacies already having gone to the wall and with many more at risk of closure, the government needs to change course,” she said.
“That means exempting pharmacies from their misguided jobs tax to prevent any future surge in closures,” she added.
Closing doors
Earlier this month, NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) data revealed that the number of pharmacies in England has dropped below 10,000 in a 20-year first.
As of March 31, only 9,999 pharmacies excluding distance selling pharmacies (DSPs) remained – down from 10,015 the previous month and 10,044 at the end of 2024.
The news came just days after the government announced a new 2025/26 pharmacy contract deal, which will see the sector receive an extra £481m on 2023/24 figures – an 18.6% rise.
Read more: ‘Horrifying’: Pharmacy Access Scheme fails to prevent 58 closures
The contract has faced criticism from the sector, with the Independent Pharmacies Association (IPA) criticising the lack of any “immediate cash injection” to help “struggling pharmacies” and the NPA adding that the deal “falls a long way short” of the true amount needed to keep pharmacies afloat.
Meanwhile in March, financial accounts from Well Pharmacy revealed plans to identify and dispose of pharmacies that are “non-core” to the business having already shed around 50 branches in a year.
And Morrisons announced that it is set to close four of its pharmacies following a “wide-ranging review”, while Tesco told C+D in February that it plans to close 10 in-store pharmacies “later this year.
