Pharmacies across England are scaling back their weekend operating hours, with some opting to close entirely due to financial challenges. According to recent data from the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), about one in six pharmacies in the country, totaling around 1,600 establishments, have reduced their weekend schedules. Notably, eight percent have ceased operations on both Saturdays and Sundays in the past four years.
The NPA attributes this trend to inadequate funding from the NHS, leading to longer travel distances for patients seeking prescriptions or medical advice. Patients in some areas are now required to travel nearly an hour to reach the nearest pharmacy, or resort to seeking assistance at hospitals.
Olivier Picard, Chair of the NPA, expressed concerns over the strain on the pharmacy network, particularly affecting rural communities. The NPA’s findings reveal a significant decline in weekend pharmacy hours, with only 17% of pharmacies open on Sundays. Regions like Kent, Birmingham, Lancashire, and Cornwall have experienced substantial drops in weekend availability, with some areas witnessing a 34% decrease in Sunday operating hours.
Despite a funding increase in recent years, a survey by the NPA indicated that a majority of pharmacies in England operated at a loss in 2025. Over 1,400 pharmacies have closed since 2016, resulting in a diminished network that is now at its lowest point in two decades.
Pharmacists are adjusting their weekend hours to remain operational amid ongoing financial pressures, with hopes for sustained funding support from the government. The NPA is advocating for a funding boost to stabilize the pharmacy sector and address the challenges within the current NHS contract structure.
While the Government deliberates on future funding arrangements for pharmacies, the NPA emphasizes the critical role of pharmacists in alleviating pressure on the healthcare system. There is a shared goal of expanding NHS services, contingent upon substantial and consistent investment to support community pharmacies.