Fresh concerns have been raised around the 'serious, unintended consequences' that ongoing pharmacy closures could have on patients following new analysis on the situation.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has today revealed 222 pharmacies closed permanently in 2024  – the second highest annual closure rate on record and second only to the previous year.

The analysis, based on NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) data, suggested nearly nine in 10 council areas have seen at least one pharmacy shut permanently in just the last two years.

In response, the Local Government Association (LGA) warned the level of closures coupled with a move to shift more care into community settings and away from hospitals could put patient's health and wellbeing at risk.

Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr David Fothergill, described community pharmacies as 'vital social and economic assets that contribute significantly to thriving high streets'.

'As government has acknowledged, pharmacies play a crucial role in transforming healthcare delivery by identifying health issues, managing conditions, and promoting healthy lifestyles within communities,' he added.

But he warned that 'the closure of community pharmacies could have serious, unintended consequences on residents’ health and wellbeing'.

According to the NPA, as of September 2024, West Berkshire had the fewest pharmacies per patient and was also the area which had seen the highest rate of pharmacy closures in England.

Meanwhile in Cornwall, nine pharmacies have shut in the last two years, placing one of the most rural council areas in the top 10 areas in the country for pharmacy closures.

Nick Kaye, NPA chair, said the 'stark figures' show pharmacies 'continuing to close in record numbers due to the impact of 40% cuts to their budgets'.

And he said those pharmacies that have remained open 'are left hanging on by their fingertips and could be forced to close without an urgent increase in their funding'.

'It is patients that have lost out the most, with more people in isolated areas having to travel further for vital medication as well as access to medical advice convenient to them,' Mr Kaye said.

He reiterated that patience had 'worn paper-thin' within the sector, given the 'failure to commence consultations on the current year’s settlement' thus far.

'Pharmacies simply cannot wait any longer for a settlement that should have been agreed and paid nearly more than a year ago,' said Mr Kaye.

'We’ve given the government ample time to respond to the very clear expression of professional concern expressed in our ballot – now’s the time to come up with a sensible settlement and a clear roadmap to the reform we all want to see.'

In an advisory ballot run by the NPA in England, Wales and Northern Ireland late last year, some 99% of participating pharmacy owners said they were willing to limit their services unless funding is improved.

This week, the NPA outlined five key 'tests' the government must meet in its funding offer to the sector.