Underinvestment threatening patient access to pharmacy, Health APPG hears

Underinvestment in the sector is continuing to threaten the accessibility of community pharmacies to patients and the public, Community Pharmacy England has told a Parliamentary inquiry.

Dr. James Davies, Director of Research and Insights at Community Pharmacy England, gave oral evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) on Wednesday 19th November. The APHG’s inquiry on improving access to primary care services is seeking to develop coordinated policy solutions that ensure equitable, efficient, and sustainable access to primary care.

Representatives from the Association of Optometrists, the British Dental Association, the British Medical Association, and Community Pharmacy England appeared at the APHG inquiry session.

On panel alongside GPs, dentists and optometrists, James set out the evidence we have of the detrimental impact that years of underinvestment in the sector are having.

The 2025 Pharmacy Pressures Survey confirmed that financial pressures are the largest single issue for pharmacy owners, with more than a fifth forced to reduce their operating hours and the services that they offer. James and other witnesses also highlighted a sustained trend of pharmacy closures, which are disproportionally affecting rural and deprived areas.

As Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS in England showed, primary care’s share of NHS spending has fallen, while hospital budgets have increased. The APHG heard how this underfunding is making it challenging for primary care to provide the shifts required to fulfil the Government’s healthcare ambitions.

The session explored some of the changes that need to be made to help strengthen community pharmacy – and primary care – through the relieving of pressure and better coordination and integration across the system.

To help address the supply issues that are affecting access to medications, James outlined Community Pharmacy England’s support for reforms to allow pharmacists greater flexibility to make safe substitutions when medicines are unavailable, describing it as a ‘low cost, high impact’ solution.

Dr. James Davies, Director of Research and Insights at Community Pharmacy England, said:

“There is a potential for closer working to align patient pathways and provide better outcomes, such as that seen through Pharmacy First. We can build on those areas where it is working well by making electronic referral pathways the norm across the country, supported by clear incentives for integrated working.

Ultimately, community pharmacies are central to improving access to primary care services and we will continue to be clear that without a fully empowered and funded pharmacy network, the Government’s ambitions for the future of the health service are at risk of failure.”