Healthwatch Isle of Wight has warned that temporary pharmacy closures are adding to the deepening crisis in the sector.
In 2022-23, there were 11,414 community pharmacies in England, including 313 in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
However, data from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board reported 18 pharmacies closed permanently between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.
This means that, on average, more than one closed permanently every month.
During the same period, 346 temporary closures were reported across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, resulting in 1,252 hours lost and an average closure length of 4 hours.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board reported staff shortages, such as problems finding a locum, were the main reason of temporary closures.
The findings come from FOI requests that the national patient champion Healthwatch England issued to all 42 Integrated Care Boards in England.
It asked each ICB to provide figures for permanent and temporary closures, the duration of each temporary closure, and the reasons why each pharmacy closed.
These figures were used to calculate the average duration of pharmacy closures, their total length and how many working days this amounted to.
ICBs in rural areas recorded a higher level of temporary pharmacy closures compared to ICBs in predominantly urban areas.
Additionally, ICBs with a higher proportion of people over 60 years of age recorded a higher number of hours lost per pharmacy.
The findings come after the General Pharmaceutical Council warned the rate of closures is spiralling rapidly.
Their data showed that deprived areas had lost proportionally more pharmacies than less deprived areas.
Healthwatch England has warned temporary closures are adding to the mounting problems in the pharmacy sector, calling into doubt the success of the Pharmacy First programme.
Launched in January, the programme allows people to get care for seven common conditions to relieve pressure on GP practices, but the ongoing closures are making it harder for people to access medications and care.
The Isle of Wight has been hit particularly hard with short notice closures of pharmacies, with availability of pharmacists being cited as the main reason for closures, often at short notice.
Joanna Smith, manager of Healthwatch Isle of Wight, said:
“We have been raising concerns about short notice pharmacy closures both locally and regionally as we are concerned about the impact this is having on people who are struggling to get their medication.
"We would urge the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board to ensure that pharmacies give people more notice of pharmacy closures and provide better signposting to other services.
"We also ask people to contact us if they are being impacted by pharmacy closures, so we can escalate their concerns.”
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