Kent pharmacies closed for extra 2,000 hours per week over last two years
Research by the National Pharmacy Association has found that nearly 20 sites have closed in the county since 2023 with the average pharmacy now being open for 51 hours per week.
Over the last two years, pharmacies in Kent have been closed for an extra two thousand hours per week.
Research by the National Pharmacy Association has found that nearly 20 sites have closed in the county since 2023 with the average pharmacy now being open for 51 hours per week.
In 2022/23 there 273 sites open for an average of 56.07 hours per week while in 2024/2025 there are now 256 sites open for an average of 51.6 hours per week.
Amish Patel is from Hogson's Pharmacy in Longfield and he has reduced his opening hours over the last few years, he said: "Every week day I shut half n hour earlier and on Saturday I shut three hours earlier, in an attempt to keep the business viable but also cost effective at the same time, I just want to keep the doors open.
"I had to dip into savings a few years ago, removing over £10,000 just to keep the pharmacy a float and then I still took my first loss in 2020 and this is exactly what my colleagues are seeing and why so many places are closing because eventually they run out of money and can't do it anymore.