Information for politicians
Published on: 16th March 2026 | Updated on: 16th April 2026
Why community pharmacy matters
Community pharmacies provide critical medicines, advice and a range of clinical services to communities across England. They are a vital part of the NHS primary care service. But pharmacies are under under significant pressure: persistent medicine shortages, rising operating costs and a widening £2bn funding gap are putting local services at risk. At the same time, NHS and public reliance on pharmacy continues to grow — through Pharmacy First consultations, rising prescription volumes and millions of episodes of informal clinical advice each year.
This page provides MPs and parliamentary staff with a quick overview of the key issues facing pharmacies, what action is needed this year, and how we can support you.
We provide financial support to the secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy. If you would like to become a supporter or have any further question on this, please visit the APPG’s website (link below) or get in touch directly with us.
Quick links
Key facts
Find out why pharmacies are worth investing in by watching the animation below:
Pressures and patient access
Community pharmacies continue to experience severe pressures, with medicine shortages affecting millions of patients and ongoing severe operational and financial pressures which are increasing workload and impacting patient access.
More information: Pharmacy Pressures Survey
Demand on pharmacy services is rising
Pharmacy First consultations are growing, prescription volumes remain at historic highs, and pharmacy teams provide millions of episodes of unpaid clinical advice each year. Pharmacies are increasingly the first point of contact for NHS care.
More information: Four point plan
The funding gap is widening
Despite investment in 2025, independent analysis shows a funding gap of over £2bn per year for the community pharmacy sector. Rising wage and operating costs continue to outstrip funding, and closures are increasing — with 800 fewer pharmacies since 2021.
More information: Economic Analysis of NHS Pharmaceutical Services in England
Uncertainty for 2026
National Living Wage rises and increased employer National Insurance contributions will significantly raise staffing costs. Medicine price volatility continues, and there is no confirmed funding settlement beyond April 2026.
More information: Autumn Budget 2025 analysis
To stabilise the community pharmacy network and protect patient access, we are asking Government to:
- Deliver a sustainable long‑term funding settlement
- Close the £2bn annual funding gap
- Secure the long‑term future of Pharmacy First
- Strengthen resilience in the medicines supply chain
- Support pharmacies with rising workforce and operating costs
- Fully integrate community pharmacy into NHS digital and primary care plans
These actions are essential to ensure pharmacies can continue delivering accessible, high‑quality NHS care across England.
- Write to the Health Secretary to highlight pressures facing pharmacies in your
constituency and call for urgent action on funding, workforce costs and medicine supply. - Apply for a Westminster Hall Debate to raise pharmacy sustainability and access issues on
the Parliamentary record and to press for support for the sector. - Ask a pharmacy related question at Health Oral questions such as on medicine shortages,
Pharmacy First, funding pressures or local closures. We are happy to support drafting.
Community Pharmacy England can assist with:
- Constituency‑specific pharmacy data
- Local case studies illustrating patient impact
- Briefing notes for parliamentary questions or debates
- Support for Westminster Hall debates and adjournment debates
- Help arranging pharmacy visits in your constituency
If helpful, a member of our team can join meetings or visits to provide national context.
Current MP briefings
For a brief explainer of Community Pharmacy England, watch the video below:
Our recent submissions to parliamentary inquiries
For more information on this topic please email comms.team@cpe.org.uk
