Community Pharmacy England responds to 2026 GP Patient Survey results

Community Pharmacy England has welcomed the publication of the 2026 GP Patient Survey, which sets out the latest findings on people’s experiences of general practice, NHS dentistry and community pharmacy services.

The survey showed especially strong results for community pharmacy, with patients reporting very positive experiences of pharmacy services.

Key findings for community pharmacy include:

• 87% of patients said they had used at least one community pharmacy service in the last 12 months.
• Nearly nine in ten patients (89%) said they had a good experience of using community pharmacy services.
• Patient satisfaction with community pharmacy has continued to improve year on year and pharmacy is the highest-rated service across primary care.

Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England, said:

“It is no surprise to see that pharmacies are still topping the polls in terms of popularity with 89% of people surveyed saying they had an overall good experience of using pharmacy services. This is a fantastic figure – ‘off the charts’ as one patient representative put it – and eclipses the results of all other primary care services.

Patients and the public are continuing to rely on, and to value, their local pharmacies. They know they will receive the help that they need, without any need for an appointment and in a hugely accessible location.

It is particularly encouraging to see that patient satisfaction continues to improve year on year, showing that community pharmacy continues to be a highly valued and popular choice for patients.

These findings are important evidence of the trust that patients place in their local pharmacies and the contribution the sector continues to make to improving access to NHS care. We have shared these findings with LPCs to support their engagement with local NHS leaders and elected representatives, and we will be using this valuable evidence in our discussions with Government, NHS England and other national policymakers as we continue to make the case for a sustainable future for community pharmacy.”