Responding to new analysis by the National Pharmacy Association on pharmacy closures in England in the last three years, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said:
"These new findings are concerning and highlight a deepening challenge in access to vital healthcare services in the communities that need them the most. The disproportionate impact of pharmacy closures on more deprived areas risks widening already stark health inequalities.
"Pharmacies are integral to community health, particularly in areas with high levels of deprivation, where they often serve as the most accessible point of contact with the NHS. Their role in providing essential medicines, advice, and increasingly clinical services is vital to prevention and relieving pressure in other parts of health and care services.”