Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of levels of pharmacy closures in areas of deprivation.

In England there are over 11,000 community pharmacies providing National Health Service pharmaceutical services. An estimated 98% of the population in areas of high deprivation live within 20 minutes’ walk of a community pharmacy.

The Department monitors the market and works with NHS England to ensure patient access to pharmaceutical services is maintained. The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides financial support to community pharmacies in areas where there are fewer premises.