Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of rural pharmacy closures on access to primary care.

It is the statutory duty of every local authority in England to undertake pharmaceutical needs assessments for their areas including those that are rural in nature, every three years, to ensure provision continues to meet their population’s needs. Integrated care boards have regard to those assessments when commissioning services and where a pharmacy closure impacts on the access to services, a new contractor can apply to open a pharmacy in the area.

Patients who struggle to access pharmacy premises can access pharmacy services remotely through any of the over 400 online pharmacies that are contractually required to deliver medicines free of charge. Alternatively, in some rural areas, doctors are permitted to dispense medication to patients.

The Pharmacy Access scheme provides additional funding to pharmacies in the areas where there are fewer pharmacies.