London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Hundreds of community pharmacies 'could close due to rising costs'

Hundreds of community pharmacies 'could close due to rising costs'

The most recent contract signed with NHS England and the government to fund community pharmacies is said to be no longer fit for purpose, given the rise in costs.

When Amish Patel followed his father into the pharmacy business, he hoped it would be a job for life.

But with the cost of everything from medicines to energy rising, it has become increasingly difficult to pay the bills.

"In 2020 my pharmacy made the first ever loss in its business profits, which for a pharmacy that's established in 1985, we've got no loans in our business, it's really worrying," he said.

"That year, we made a decision to invest in private services, and that's kept us going.

"But the forecast has now shown that in the next two, three years, I'm going to make continual losses, unless the government does something drastic to increase our funding we'll be out of business."

Amish Patel owns Hodgson Pharmacy in Longfield, Kent


Like other community pharmacies, Mr Patel's Hodgson Pharmacy in Longfield, Kent, is a private contractor which receives the vast majority of its income from the NHS.

A five-year contract was agreed with NHS England and the government in 2019, but pharmacists say it's no match for the rise in prices.

Pharmacies 'don't have funding to stay afloat'


"We've been left with a contract that doesn't take into account any inflation or any cost of living," said Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies.

"Pharmacies are under a lot of pressure at the moment, all pharmacies are.

"The cost of medicines is rising, they simply do not have the funding to keep them afloat."

Her organisation estimates that since 2015, 800 pharmacies have closed their doors permanently (and only 100 new ones opened), and that 600 more may close this year alone.

'You won't get accessible service'


That, Ms Hannbeck says, will pile more pressure on local GP and A&E services.

"After a local pharmacy closes, you won't be able to get the accessible service," she warned.

"You're going to have to travel further, or you can put more pressure on the NHS if nothing gets done about it

"It's mainly the elderly and the vulnerable and those in areas of deprivation that are going to be suffering."

Ms Hannbeck added that with current funding, it won't be possible for pharmacists to take on more duties in order to relieve overstretched NHS services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Community pharmacies play a vital role in our health care system, and we back them with £2.6bn a year. On top of this, we have announced a further £100m investment in the sector to help support services.

"Around 80% of the population live within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, and there are twice as many pharmacies in the more deprived areas."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×