When pharmacies close, coastal towns feel it first. England's seaside communities share a toxic combination of factors: ageing populations with high pharmaceutical needs, seasonal tourism that strains services, limited transport links that make the next nearest pharmacy unreachable, and recruitment difficulties that leave vacancies unfilled for months.
PharmSee's analysis of 13,147 pharmacies and local GP-to-pharmacy ratios reveals just how stark the coastal gap has become.
The Coastal Pressure Points
Using PharmSee's location analysis tool, we examined GP-to-pharmacy ratios across England's major coastal areas. A ratio above 1.0 means there are more GP practices than pharmacies — a signal of potential under-service.
| Coastal Town | GPs (radius) | Pharmacies | GP:Pharmacy Ratio | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton (3mi) | 62 | 48 | 1.29:1 | Under-served |
| Hastings (5mi) | 23 | 21 | 1.10:1 | Under-served |
| Eastbourne (5mi) | 21 | 21 | 1.00:1 | Borderline |
| Scarborough (5mi) | 13 | 16 | 0.81:1 | Adequate |
| Great Yarmouth (5mi) | 8 | 26 | 0.31:1 | Well-served |
| Bournemouth (3mi) | 22 | 45 | 0.49:1 | Well-served |
Brighton stands out with the highest GP-to-pharmacy ratio of any major English city in PharmSee's database — 1.29:1. That means for every pharmacy, there are nearly 1.3 GP practices generating prescriptions. Compare this to inland cities like Nottingham (0.72:1) or Newcastle (0.69:1), where pharmacy coverage is significantly denser.
Why Coastal Towns Are Different
1. Older, Sicker Populations
Coastal towns have some of England's highest proportions of over-65 residents. This demographic generates more prescriptions per capita — roughly 20 items per year versus 8 for working-age adults. More prescriptions per person means each pharmacy handles more volume, and when one closes, the remaining pharmacies absorb a disproportionate load.
2. The Recruitment Problem
Pharmacist salaries in coastal regions reflect broader regional patterns. The South East median of £42,631 and South West median of £32,640 represent the salary range for most coastal areas — but these figures compete poorly with London's £51,468 median, just an hour away by train from Brighton.
Why would a pharmacist accept £42,631 in Brighton when London pays £51,468 for equivalent roles? This salary gravity pulls pharmacists away from coastal towns and towards urban centres.
3. Seasonal Demand Spikes
Tourism adds unpredictable demand. A seaside town's population can double during summer months, with visitors needing emergency prescriptions, holiday medication, and travel health advice. Pharmacies must staff for peak demand but pay year-round — a financial strain that tips marginal pharmacies into closure.
4. Transport Isolation
In urban areas, losing one pharmacy means walking 5 minutes to the next. In coastal towns, the next nearest pharmacy may be a 20-minute drive — or require a bus service that runs hourly. For elderly patients without cars, a pharmacy closure can effectively cut off access to medicines.
The Brighton Case Study
Brighton deserves special attention. With 62 GP practices and only 48 pharmacies within 3 miles of the city centre, it has the worst GP-to-pharmacy ratio of any major English city we've analysed.
For context, compare Brighton to similar-sized inland cities:
| City | GPs | Pharmacies | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 62 | 48 | 1.29:1 |
| Leicester | 118 | 96 | 1.23:1 |
| Birmingham | 147 | 136 | 1.08:1 |
| Manchester | 104 | 113 | 0.92:1 |
| Bristol | 61 | 70 | 0.87:1 |
| Leeds | 79 | 97 | 0.81:1 |
| Nottingham | 62 | 86 | 0.72:1 |
| Hull | 43 | 65 | 0.66:1 |
Brighton's ratio of 1.29:1 is 79% worse than Nottingham's 0.72:1. In practical terms, each Brighton pharmacy serves the prescription output of significantly more GP practices than its Nottingham equivalent.
The Hastings Warning Sign
Hastings, with a ratio of 1.10:1 across a 5-mile radius, represents the next frontier of coastal pharmacy stress. The town combines:
- High deprivation (among the most deprived local authorities in England)
- An ageing population concentrated in seaside wards
- Limited alternative access if local pharmacies close
If current trends continue, Hastings could overtake Brighton as England's most pharmacy-stressed coastal town within two years.
What Needs to Change
Addressing coastal pharmacy deserts requires action on multiple fronts:
- Targeted recruitment incentives: regional salary supplements or training bursaries for pharmacists who commit to coastal practice
- Pharmacy First as a lifeline: at £15 per consultation, expanded clinical services could make marginal coastal pharmacies financially viable
- Hub-and-spoke dispensing: centralising dispensing at regional hubs while maintaining local clinical access points
- Data-driven planning: tools like PharmSee's location analysis enable commissioners to identify at-risk areas before closures happen
Explore Your Area
Check whether your local pharmacy landscape is under pressure:
- Search pharmacies by location to see what's near you
- Analyse any area's GP-to-pharmacy ratio with PharmSee's free tool
- Compare pharmacy coverage across different towns and cities
Analysis based on PharmSee's database of 13,147 pharmacies, 12,858 GP practices, and 33,755 LSOA deprivation records. Location analysis data updated April 2026.