Bath is one of the smaller pharmacy markets in the South West, with a branch count roughly half that of Exeter and a GP-to-pharmacy ratio that puts it among England's more pressured mid-size cities. According to PharmSee's analysis of NHS England dispensing contractor data and NHS Digital GP practice records, the city centre and surrounding area within three miles of BA1 1SU contains 33 GP practices and 27 registered pharmacies — a ratio of 1.22:1.
That ratio places Bath between Exeter (1.42:1, the South West's most pressured city) and the national urban average of approximately 0.9–1.0:1, according to PharmSee's measurements across 13 English cities.
The Numbers
| Metric | Bath (3mi of BA1) |
|---|---|
| GP practices | 33 |
| Registered pharmacies | 27 |
| GP-to-pharmacy ratio | 1.22:1 |
| Total dispensing revenue | £1,578,843 |
| Branches with no dispensing activity | 5 |
| Active branches (with recorded dispensing) | 22 |
| Effective ratio (active only) | 1.50:1 |
Revenue and branch data are drawn from the most recent NHSBSA quarterly dispensing dataset available via PharmSee. Branches showing zero dispensing revenue may reflect data-reporting lag, temporary closures, or operational changes rather than permanent closure.
Who Operates in Bath
Bath's pharmacy market is predominantly independent. Of the 27 registered contractors within the three-mile ring, 20 (74%) are independently operated — among the highest independent shares PharmSee has measured in any English city.
The remaining seven branches belong to national chains: five to Boots UK (two of which show no recorded dispensing activity in the most recent quarter), one to Superdrug, and one listed under the Lloyds Pharmacy contractor name (also showing no dispensing activity, consistent with Lloyds' national withdrawal from many sites following the 2023 estate restructuring).
Revenue Context
Total recorded dispensing revenue across all 27 pharmacies was approximately £1.58 million in the most recent NHSBSA quarter. Divided among the 22 branches with recorded dispensing activity, this produces an average of roughly £71,800 per active pharmacy — the lowest per-pharmacy figure PharmSee has measured across 13 English cities. For context, the equivalent figure for Sunderland is approximately £158,000 and for Exeter approximately £130,000.
Prescription dispensing revenue captures only one component of pharmacy income. It does not include retail sales, private dispensing, Pharmacy First consultations, or other enhanced services. Bath's tourism-driven economy and relatively affluent demographics may support higher non-dispensing income streams that are not visible in NHSBSA data.
The Effective Ratio
When the five branches with no recorded dispensing activity are excluded, Bath's effective GP-to-pharmacy ratio rises from 1.22:1 to 1.50:1 — meaning roughly three GPs for every two active pharmacies. That places Bath's effective ratio among the highest PharmSee has recorded, second only to Exeter's estimated 1.76:1 effective ratio.
For patients and professionals, this suggests that Bath's active pharmacies serve a relatively high proportion of GP-generated prescriptions per branch compared to cities with lower ratios.
Jobs and Hiring
PharmSee tracks vacancies from 11 pharmacy employers across England. Within 25 miles of Bath, 48 active pharmacy vacancies were recorded as of mid-April 2026 — a moderate figure consistent with a smaller market.
| Employer | Vacancies (25mi) |
|---|---|
| Boots UK | 21 |
| NHS Jobs | 16 |
| Superdrug | 3 |
| Asda | 3 |
| Cohens | 2 |
| Others | 3 |
The 48-vacancy figure compares with 50 around Sunderland, 40 around Newcastle, and 28 around Norwich, placing Bath in the middle tier of mid-size city hiring markets. For live vacancy data, explore PharmSee's job search tool.
How Bath Compares
| City | GP:Pharm Ratio | Revenue/Active Pharmacy | Independent % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 1.42:1 | ~£130,000 | ~60% |
| Bath | 1.22:1 | £71,800 | 74% |
| Coventry | 1.06:1 | ~£95,300 | 72% |
| Norwich | 0.88:1 | ~£110,500 | 50% |
| Oxford | 0.66:1 | ~£63,600 | ~55% |
Bath sits in a distinctive position: a high GP-to-pharmacy ratio combined with low per-pharmacy revenue and a strong independent presence. The compact nature of the market may explain why chain operators have a relatively modest footprint.
Methodology and Caveats
This analysis uses PharmSee's aggregation of NHS England dispensing contractor records, NHSBSA dispensing data, NHS Digital GP practice lists, and live vacancy data from 11 pharmacy job sources. All figures describe the area within three miles of BA1 1SU, Bath city centre.
NHSBSA dispensing data has a known reporting lag of approximately one quarter. Branches showing zero dispensing revenue are not necessarily closed — this figure can reflect data-processing delays, temporary closures, or changes in contractor codes. Revenue figures capture NHS prescription dispensing only and do not represent total pharmacy income.
For more detailed pharmacy data in Bath and across England, explore PharmSee's pharmacy search and salary guides.
Data sources: NHSBSA dispensing data via PharmSee, NHS Digital GP practice list, PharmSee vacancy tracker (11 sources). Snapshot date: April 2026.