Number of community pharmacists falls by 10% in a year, survey shows

Results from the 2025 NHS England 'Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey' reveal that there were 25,822 pharmacists working in community pharmacies in England in 2025, compared with 28,763 in 2024.

Number of community pharmacists falls by 10% in a year, survey shows. Results from the 2025 NHS England 'Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey' reveal that there were 25,822 pharmacists working in community pharmacies in England in 2025, compared with 28,763 in 2024. The survey results also showed the full-time equivalent vacancy rate for pharmacists declined by 13%, from 3,462 in 2024 to 3,000 in 2025. The number of pharmacists working in community pharmacies in England dropped by 10% between 2024 and 2025, according to the results of the most recent NHS England ‘Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey’. Published on 19 May 2026, the results also revealed that in the same time period, the number of community pharmacists who qualified as independent prescribers increased — from 2,513 in 2024 to 3,154 in 2025 (or 1,996 full-time equivalent (FTE)...