Sunderland and Newcastle are 12 miles apart. Both sit in the North East of England, serve populations with above-average deprivation, and — according to PharmSee's analysis — have nearly identical GP-to-pharmacy ratios. But beneath the headline figures, the two cities operate quite differently as pharmacy markets.
Understanding these differences matters for professionals considering a move to the region, owners assessing competition, and planners evaluating pharmacy access across the North East.
The Headline Numbers
| Metric | Sunderland (SR1, 3mi) | Newcastle (NE1, 3mi) |
|---|---|---|
| GP practices | 43 | 67 |
| Registered pharmacies | 55 | 85 |
| GP-to-pharmacy ratio | 0.78:1 | 0.79:1 |
| Zero-revenue branches | 15 (27.3%) | 22 (25.9%) |
| Active branches | 40 | 63 |
| Effective ratio | 1.08:1 | 1.06:1 |
| Total dispensing revenue | £6,323,672 | £8,910,162 |
| Revenue per active pharmacy | £158,092 | £141,431 |
All data from PharmSee's aggregation of NHS England dispensing contractor records and NHSBSA dispensing data, accessed April 2026.
The ratios are almost identical: 0.78:1 vs 0.79:1 on paper, and 1.08:1 vs 1.06:1 after removing zero-revenue entries. By this measure, both cities appear similarly supplied. But the structural composition of those markets is markedly different.
Market Structure: Independent vs Chain
Sunderland is one of England's most independent-dominated pharmacy markets. Of its 55 registered contractors, 43 (78%) are independently operated. The chain footprint is minimal: three Boots UK branches (two showing no dispensing activity), three Rowlands entries (all zero-revenue), three Lloyds register entries (all zero-revenue), and one each from Superdrug, Cohens, and Asda.
Newcastle has a more chain-heavy profile. Boots UK operates 17 branches within the three-mile ring — nearly six times Sunderland's three — though nine of these show no dispensing activity. Lloyds register entries number nine (seven zero-revenue). Independent pharmacies account for 58 of 85 branches (68%).
| Category | Sunderland | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|
| Independent share | 78% (43 branches) | 68% (58 branches) |
| Boots UK branches | 3 (2 zero-rev) | 17 (9 zero-rev) |
| Lloyds register entries | 3 (3 zero-rev) | 9 (7 zero-rev) |
| Other chains | 3 | 1 |
Revenue: Sunderland Earns More Per Branch
Despite having a smaller total market (£6.3 million vs £8.9 million), Sunderland's active pharmacies each earn approximately £158,000 from dispensing — 12% more than Newcastle's £141,000. Both figures are well above the English urban average, consistent with the North East's higher-than-average prescription demand driven by population health needs and deprivation levels.
The difference reflects supply concentration: Sunderland has fewer active branches sharing a proportionally similar prescription volume. For pharmacy owners, this translates to higher per-branch workloads and higher dispensing income in Sunderland relative to Newcastle.
Register Data Quality
Both cities have high rates of zero-revenue register entries — 27.3% in Sunderland and 25.9% in Newcastle. These are among the highest rates PharmSee has measured across 13 English cities.
In Newcastle, the gap is substantially driven by chain entries: 9 Boots and 7 Lloyds branches with zero revenue account for 16 of 22 zero-revenue entries (73%). In Sunderland, the distribution is broader: seven independently branded sites, three Rowlands, three Lloyds, and two Boots contribute to the 15 zero-revenue total. The Sunderland gap may therefore include more genuine closures or specialist contractors alongside the expected register-lag artefacts.
Jobs and Hiring
Within 25 miles of each city, PharmSee tracks comparable vacancy counts:
| Employer | Sunderland (25mi) | Newcastle (25mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Boots UK | 29 | 22 |
| NHS Jobs | 14 | 13 |
| Cohens | 5 | 3 |
| Others | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 50 | 40 |
The 25-mile radii overlap significantly — some vacancies will appear in both counts. The higher Sunderland figure (50 vs 40) is notable given its smaller pharmacy market and may reflect broader regional reach into County Durham and south Tyneside.
For professionals, the North East offers a combined market of approximately 125 active pharmacies across the two city cores, with around 50 advertised vacancies within commuting distance. Explore live listings on PharmSee's job search.
What This Means for Professionals and Planners
The two cities present different propositions:
Sunderland offers higher per-branch dispensing income, a strongly independent market with fewer chain competitors, and a compact city where community pharmacies play a central role in health access for a deprived population. The vacancy market is moderate.
Newcastle offers a larger market with more employers and greater diversity of chain and independent operators. Per-branch income is lower but the larger market provides more flexibility. The NHS hospital sector (13 vacancies via NHS Jobs) adds career options that Sunderland's smaller hospital infrastructure cannot match.
For pharmacy owners, both markets are robust by dispensing revenue standards — comfortably above the 13-city average. The key planning consideration is the high zero-revenue rate in both cities, which means headline pharmacy counts significantly overstate the number of active competitors.
Compare pharmacies across both cities using PharmSee's pharmacy search or explore regional salary data.
Methodology and Caveats
All figures describe the area within three miles of SR1 3AA (Sunderland) and NE1 7RU (Newcastle). NHSBSA dispensing data has a known reporting lag of approximately one quarter. Branches showing zero dispensing revenue are not necessarily closed. Revenue figures capture NHS prescription dispensing only. Job vacancy figures describe the area within 25 miles of each city-centre postcode; the two radii overlap in parts of Tyne and Wear.
Data sources: NHSBSA dispensing data via PharmSee, NHS Digital GP practice list, PharmSee vacancy tracker (11 sources). Snapshot date: April 2026.