Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care

Closure of hundreds of outlets hitting rural areas, older people and deprived communities hardest, according to Healthwatch England

High street pharmacies are closing at such an alarming rate that it threatens the drive to use them instead of GPs to care for millions of people, the NHS's patient champion warns today.

A total of 436 community pharmacies in England shut permanently last year and there were also 13,863 temporary closures, which stopped patients from obtaining health advice and medication.

Cheshire and Merseyside ICB saw the most permanent closures last year - 51

The North East and North Cumbria ICB had the highest number of temporary closures - 1,438

The same area also saw the highest number of hours lost to temporary closures - 4,054

And pharmacies in the Norfolk and Waveney ICB area shut temporarily for the longest number of hours on average - 17.48