Data Sources
Full transparency about where our pharmacy data comes from.
Primary data sources
Pharmacy Compare uses official public data for the core directory and additional public reference services for optional contact and distance features:
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Open Data Portal — Community Pharmacy Contractor Details. This is the core dataset used to build the static pharmacy directory, including pharmacy identity, address, ODS code and contractor flags. Published at opendata.nhsbsa.net under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- NHS England Organisation Data Service (ODS) — ODS organisation reference data is used for GP practice information and, where the ODS record provides it, optional public pharmacy website and email links. These extra contact buttons are loaded using the pharmacy's ODS code and are hidden when no matching public contact is available. Published at digital.nhs.uk/services/organisation-data-service.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) — Census 2021. Built-up area population figures are used to calculate the "Pharmacy Density" insight on town pages. Source: ONS "Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021" released 2 August 2023. Used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Postcodes.io / ONS postcode reference data — used by the optional nearby-search feature to translate postcodes and approximate locations into latitude/longitude coordinates for distance calculations. This service is not used as the source of pharmacy opening hours, services or contact details.
How often we update
The NHSBSA releases a new contractor dataset roughly monthly. We refresh our directory to match shortly after each release. The data shown on the site was last refreshed in May 2026 (this is displayed on each pharmacy and town page).
What is included in our listings
- Pharmacy trading name and contractor name
- Full street address and postcode
- Phone number (where supplied to the NHS)
- Town, county and NHS region
- ODS code (the unique NHS identifier)
- 100-hour contract status
- Distance selling contractor status
- Out-of-hours dispensing contractor status
- Local Pharmaceutical Services contractor status
What is NOT in the NHS public dataset
We are honest about what is missing — to avoid showing you data we have not verified:
- Verified daily opening hours in our local static dataset — these are not part of the NHSBSA contractor dataset used to generate the 10,000+ pharmacy pages. Pharmacy pages therefore link to the official NHS pharmacy finder and recommend calling before travelling rather than inventing times.
- Specific NHS services offered — Pharmacy First participation, flu jab availability, blood pressure checks and similar services are not treated as confirmed per-pharmacy facts unless a verified source is available. Unverified items are labelled "Contact pharmacy to confirm".
- Accessibility details — wheelchair access, hearing loops, signing services and parking are not treated as confirmed unless a verified source is available.
- Payment methods — card, cash and contactless payment acceptance is not included because we do not have a reliable per-pharmacy source for it.
- Customer reviews and ratings — we do not scrape Google or Trustpilot reviews. Reviews shown on our site will only ever be those submitted directly by users.
Anywhere this information would normally appear, we either omit it or mark it as "Contact pharmacy to confirm" rather than guessing.
Geographic coverage
Our data covers community pharmacies in England, plus a small number in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Patients in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should refer to their national NHS pharmacy services for current listings (NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, HSC NI).
Reporting errors
Spot a mistake or a closed pharmacy still showing as active? Email us at info@pharmacycompare.uk with the ODS code and we will check it at the next monthly refresh.
What we are not
Pharmacy Compare is an independent directory and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated on behalf of the NHS, NHS England, the NHSBSA or any pharmacy chain.