Charlotte Gurr
The past 12 months have been defined by important numbers. From funding gaps to hospital safety standards, data reveal both progress and persistent challenges across the pharmacy sector.
Here, we bring together the most significant statistics from The Pharmaceutical Journal’s coverage during 2025. Whether it’s the growing number of independent prescribers, the scale of items dispensed or medicines cost-effectiveness threshold changes, these figures influence the way that pharmacists work.
Scroll through the central themes highlighted below and click to find out more about what 2025 had in store for pharmacists across hospital, community and general practice.
Workforce
Though the workforce continues to grow, staff shortages are still causing stress for pharmacists and safety concerns for patients. Keep reading for our important statistics on the pharmacy workforce.
Medicines
A parliamentary inquiry into medicine shortages, as well as an increase in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) thresholds, have hit the headlines in recent months. See below for our top statistics on medicines.
Hospital
Hospital pharmacy reported a breakthrough in treatment approvals for specialist areas but also persistent gaps in workforce support. Our insights into the work of hospital pharmacists are below.
Community
Community pharmacy funding was laid bare this year, while community pharmacies delivered record numbers of items and services. Here are the essential figures that tell the story of community pharmacy this past year.
General practice
With the highest proportion of pharmacists prescribing daily, pharmacists in general practice make a significant difference to patients. However, figures show that more could be done to increase medication reviews. See the headline numbers below.
These important numbers from 2025 reflect the challenges and opportunities shaping pharmacy today. However, a year of significant change lies ahead in 2026, with pharmacy contract negotiations in England set to begin and pharmacists becoming prescribers from the point of registration. These changes, coupled with greater delivery of the ten-year health plan, mean we can be sure to see important headlines in the coming months.
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- This article was updated on 19 December 2025 to amend incorrect figures for the total number of items dispensed and Pharmacy First consultations completed by community pharmacies in England, owing to a misreading of NHSBSA data
