Community Pharmacy England (CPE) is ‘keen’ to hear from all pharmacy owners and staff in its fifth annual Pharmacy Pressures survey.
With Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) negotiations expected to begin soon, securing ‘immediate investment’ and easing pressure on community pharmacy remains the number one priority, CPE has said.
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Taking part in the Pressures Survey will allow CPE to measure the impact of financial constraints, medicine supply issues, and staffing pressures, ensuring government and NHS decision-makers understand the challenges faced by the sector.
There are two surveys and each should take around 10-15 minutes to complete. They will remain open until 23:59 on 16 March 2026.
The two surveys are:
- Pharmacy Business Owners/Head Office Representatives: This survey covers the pressures being experienced by businesses, focusing on the overall running of the pharmacy, including financial and staffing pressures. It should only be completed by one representative from each pharmacy business.
- Pharmacy Teams: This survey covers the day-to-day pressures being experienced by pharmacy teams, including supply chain issues, patient interactions/experience, and staff morale. It can be answered by anyone working in a community pharmacy.
The findings of both surveys will provide evidence to strengthen CPE’s case and support the sector, said the organisation.
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CPE chief executive, Janet Morrison, said: ‘Community pharmacy has not had an easy start to 2026. Many pharmacies have entered the year in real economic peril, worse off than a year ago due to inflation, rising staff costs, tax changes, and operational pressures.’
She stressed that this had been compounded by clawback on margin and reduced Drug tariff prices, creating volatility in medicine supply that profoundly affects patients.
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She said: ‘The data you provide through this survey will be used to influence policy, secure national media coverage, and support our discussions with ministers, Government and the NHS.
‘The findings will be referenced in Parliament, cited in national policy reports, and used to demonstrate the scale of financial and operational pressures facing the sector. They help show not only what is going horribly wrong, but what urgently needs to change.’
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