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NPA Press Office

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) press office is the link between the organisation and the media.  The team provides the press with opinion from key decision makers at the NPA and access to media trained pharmacists working in community pharmacy.  It handles enquiries from print, online and broadcast journalists, documentary makers and press officers from other organisations.

The press office team

Mark Beckett
Press Officer
Tel:  01727 858687 ext. 3529
Email:  m.beckett@npa.co.uk

If you are a journalist and would like to be added to the NPA press release list please email Mark or use the general email address:  communications@npa.co.uk .

 

Community pharmacy statistics

Pharmacy fast facts
 

The survey summary findings below were conducted in England by Continental Research via the TNS CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) Omnibus.

 Interviewing was conducted from 28 November – 02 December 2007.

  • The majority of adults use pharmacies with 84% of adults visiting a pharmacy at least once a year and 78% visiting a pharmacy for health related reasons at least once a year.
  • Adults in England visit pharmacies on average 14 times per year and on average of 11 visits per year specifically for health related reasons.
  • Frequent users of pharmacies include females, those aged over 35 and those with a long term health condition or disability (LTC). Those working full time visit pharmacies less frequently than other groups.
  • If gender and age are considered together, the highest frequency pharmacy users are females aged 35-74 and males aged over 55. Males aged 16-24 use pharmacies the least.
  • Gender, age, speaking English as a main language and having a long term condition or disability are all key drivers of pharmacy usage, in that order.
  • Pharmacies are mainly used to get medication that has been prescribed by a doctor and to purchase supplies of over the counter medication, either for a regular condition or for a one off condition.
  • The majority of people visit the same pharmacy all of the time with around a third of people using a variety of pharmacies but one most often. Those with long term health conditions or disabilities and those who live in rural areas are more likely to visit the same pharmacy.
  • The main types of pharmacy used are sole traders/small businesses and national chains.
  •  Most people visit pharmacies in the area near where they live.
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  • General Pharmaceutical Services in England 1999/2000 to 2008/9

  • This publication shows information about services provided by community pharmacies in England in contract with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to dispense NHS prescriptions between 1999-2000 and 2008-09.

    • Below is a summary of key facts contained in this publication:

    • NHS Business Services Authority reports show that there were 10,475 community pharmacies in England at 31 March 2009, compared to 10,291 at 31 March 2008, an increase of 184 (1.8 per cent).
    • The number of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacies in England in 2008-09 was 771.5 million. This was an increase of 45.7 million (6.3 per cent) from 2007-08 when the figure was 725.8 million.
    • Dispensing fees received by community pharmacies in England increased by £45.7 million to £795.1 million in 2008-09. However, the average net ingredient cost (NIC) per fee decreased by 50p to £9.39.
    • At 31 March 2009, 62 per cent of community pharmacies in England were owned by multiple contractors with Milton Keynes PCT recording the highest figure at 88 per cent and Islington PCT the lowest at 16 per cent.
    • 26,970 local enhanced services were provided by community pharmacy contractors in England in 2008-09 compared to 23,551 in 2007-08. The most frequent services provided in 2008-09 remain unchanged from 2007-08. These are Stop Smoking support, Supervised Administration, Minor Ailment Schemes and supply via Patient Group Directions.

     

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