• England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland

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.

Contact the press office

Sarah White
Press Officer
Tel: 01727 795901
Email: s.white@npa.co.uk

Stephen Fishwick
Head of External Communications
Tel:  01727 795901
Email:  s.fishwick@npa.co.uk

Out of hours (for journalists only): 07920 203 051

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

 

Community pharmacy statistics

Pharmacy fast facts
 
  • There are over 12,000 community pharmacies across the UK
  • Community pharmacies are easily accessible – 99% of the population can get to a pharmacy within 20 minutes by car and 96% by walking or using public transport.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The number of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacies in England in 2011-12 was 885.0 million. This was an increase of 34.3 million (4.0 per cent) from 2010-11 when the figure for community pharmacies was 850.7 million. There were 566.3 million prescription items dispensed by community pharmacies in 2002-03.
  • Pharmacists study at university for four years and then have a year ‘in practice’ before qualifying. They are the experts in the use of medicines for the treatment of disease. For services like allergy screening, pharmacists undergo additional approved training. Pharmacy staff are required to undertake approved training to work in a pharmacy. They work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.