July community pharmacy landscape in England
As of the end of July 2026, the number of community-based pharmacies was 9,927, 2,022 less than Jan 2015, 910 less than Jan 2021 and 98 less than Jan 2026. (source NHSBSA)
Small independents (1-5 pharmacies) have 51.5% market share with 5,116 (1,092 increase on Jan 2021, mid-sized groups (6-99) 16.8% with 1,670, and larger groups (100+) 31.6% with 3,141 (2,079 less than in Jan 2021).
The current number of NHS registered DSPs was 462, a slight increase on June due to contract processing and appeal delays. Of course there are more private-only ones operating and opening on the back of weight loss GLP1 and other services. Unless GPhC have a tracker on this and release the data, we don't know the numbers.
The recent CPE research confirmed that only 14% of pharmacies make any profit, the remainder still struggling against rising costs and underfunding. Despite the latest 10.3% uplift, it is still at least £2 billion below the outcomes of the governments own cost of service enquiry.
With 60% of that uplift going towards retained margin in the dispensing service (still an important and patient-valued service), this non-transparent and unfairly distributed system is broken and drives the wrong focus on procurement that only helps the treasury and damages the medicines supply chain.
There is no sight of the promised contract reform; no sight of a unified vision, plan or voice from the sector. Community pharmacy owners MUST develop their own vision and strategy for a profitable future.