PHARMACY closures are a “widespread challenge” across England, the nation’s patient champion has warned as new figures show widespread temporary and permanent closures across the country.

Healthwatch England said that closures can have “huge impacts” on patients, particularly those in rural communities and older people.

New data obtained by Healthwatch through a freedom of information request found that 436 pharmacies closed permanently in England between January 1 and December 31, 2023 — the equivalent of eight pharmacies shutting their doors permanently weekly.

Healthwatch also sounded the alarm over temporary closures of pharmacies, which can last hours or days.

It warned that temporary and permanent pharmacy closures are “undermining people’s access to care.”

Many temporary closures were driven by staff shortages, Healthwatch said, in particular the availability of locum pharmacists.

Analysis of the data suggests that temporary closures were more common in rural areas compared with urban areas.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board appeared to be worst affected by temporary closures, it found.

Healthwatch also found that areas with older populations were more likely to be affected by temporary pharmacy closures.

The group is calling for patients to be better notified about pharmacy closures and for pharmacy teams to be better supported to have contingency plans.

It has also called for a national evaluation to consider issues facing pharmacy services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government will increase the number of pharmacists able to prescribe medication themselves and launch a review of Community Pharmacy funding.

Debbie Riddell, from Paignton in Devon, said she has faced difficulty when trying to collect prescriptions for thyroid and blood pressure issues.

The 70-year-old said: “Many of the pharmacies in my area have closed down. My local one is still open, but staff are overwhelmed with the demand.

“I was shocked by what I saw on my recent visit to pick up my medication, I had to queue out the front door and wait for at least 20 minutes to be attended to.

“There’s even a notice at the door that because of closures in the area, it will now take at least 10 days to prepare a repeat prescription.”

National Pharmacy Association chief executive Paul Rees said: “1.6 million people a day visit their pharmacy but they are closing at a record rate, and millions of people are seeing the effect of that in their communities.

“If the government wants to cut GP waiting times — and free up GPs to see patients with more serious conditions — it needs to invest in community pharmacy.”