The number of bricks and mortar community pharmacies providing NHS services in England has dropped to 9,999, the latest figures from the NHS Business Services Authority have revealed.
Of those, 4,910 were single or small groups of independents (1-5 pharmacies), 1,807 were part of medium-sized groups (6-99 pharmacies), and 3,282 were part of large groups (100+ pharmacies).
This means that as of 31 March 2025, small pharmacies made up nearly half (49%) of the sector, medium groups made up 18%, and large multiples made up 33%.
These ratios have remained the same since September 2024 and suggest a growth in independent pharmacies in England – particularly in small groups of pharmacies – and a reduction in the number of large multiples.
The recent independent economic analysis of community pharmacies in England found that current funding did not cover the full economic cost of providing NHS services for between 97.7-100.0% of pharmacies.
At the end of last month, Community Pharmacy England agreed a new £3.073 billion Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework deal for the sector for 2025/26.
A further £215 million will be available for contractors to earn through Pharmacy First, blood pressure and contraception services, while a national emergency hormonal contraception service has been commissioned.
Some £193 million of historic ‘over-payment’, accrued during the pandemic, has also been written off.
And in addition to the rolled-over global sum of £2.592 billion in 2024/25, the government has said it will also pay for services delivered this year to the value of £106 million more.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title The Pharmacist.
