Moving healthcare to Britain's struggling high streets could deliver £13billion boost for local businesses and ease pressure on NHS

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 21:00, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 21:00, 16 July 2026 Moving healthcare to Britain’s struggling high streets could deliver a £13billion boost for local businesses and ease pressure on the NHS, a major report says. Vacant shops could be transformed into neighbourhood health hubs or diagnostic centres, with existing pharmacies and opticians empowered to provide more services. This would bring everything from scans, blood tests and vaccinations to eye care, weight-loss treatment and blood pressure support in to the heart of communities. The study found 94 per cent of adults would be likely to visit other shops and businesses if more healthcare services were available on their local high street. Researchers forecast each additional healthcare trip would generate an average of £15 in spending at nearby shops, cafes and other businesses - potentially adding £13billion a year to the high street economy. The report, commissioned by Boots and produced by consultancy firm Public First, is based on an online survey of 2,015 UK adults and economic modelling. It comes as Britain’s town centres continue to struggle with empty shops, online competition, rising costs and crime. Nearly half of adults (49 per cent) believe their local high street is getting worse. But 88 per cent said their high street was important to their overall quality of life. The study found 94 per cent of adults would be likely to visit other shops and businesses if more healthcare services were available on their local high street. Access to healthcare was cited by 30 per cent of respondents as one of the most important issues facing their local area, second only to the availability of housing. The report argues that ministers can tackle both problems at once by turning healthcare providers into ‘anchor’ services that bring patients - and shoppers - back into town centres. A former Wilko shop in Barnsley’s Alhambra Shopping Centre has generated 50,000 additional high street visits a year after being converted into an NHS health and wellbeing hub, initially providing services including ophthalmology, optometry and retinal screening. The report says an expansion of Pharmacy First could also shift 14.6million appointments away from overstretched GP surgeries and save the NHS £314million each year. That is equivalent to the salaries of 8,000 nurses or the purchase of 425 MRI machines, it adds. Pharmacy First allows patients in England to receive treatment from pharmacists for common illnesses including sore throats, ear infections and sinusitis without first securing a GP appointment. Its role is expected to expand further as more pharmacists gain independent prescribing powers. The report’s economic modelling also suggests that increasing access to flu vaccinations could prevent 192 deaths, save 15million working days and generate £3billion of economic value each year. A former Wilko shop in Barnsley’s Alhambra Shopping Centre (pictured) has generated 50,000 additional high street visits a year after being converted into an NHS health and wellbeing hub. Greater provision and uptake of weight-loss medication among clinical obese or very obese workers could prevent 12million sick days and protect £4billion of annual output, it claims. Meanwhile, better management of diabetes and hight blood pressure could save another 1.6million sick days and £1billion. When people were asked whether they would use services more frequently if they became available locally, 62 per cent said they would be more likely to use dental care. Some 57 per cent said they would make more use of health screening and diagnostic services, while 56 per cent would be more likely to seek support for minor conditions. Pharmacies are already the fourth most frequently visited destination on the high street, with adults making an average of 30 visits a year. Health Minister Stephen Kinnock, said: ‘The government’s 10 Year Health Plan is centred on bringing more care closer to home, into the heart of communities across the country where people live and work – and this research shows that’s exactly what the public wants. ‘When people need to travel too far or take time off work or take their children out of school for appointments it affects their day-to-day lives and impacts productivity, efficiency and the economy. ‘By making best use of our high street optometrists and pharmacists and rolling out Neighbourhood Health Centres, we will ease pressure on GPs, improve patient outcomes, while breathing new life into communities and boosting the economy.’ Anthony Hemmerdinger, managing director of Boots, said people are increasingly looking for convenient, accessible healthcare services in the heart of their communities. Anthony Hemmerdinger, managing director of Boots, said: ‘People are increasingly looking for convenient, accessible healthcare services in the heart of their communities, and high street pharmacies are uniquely placed to meet that need. 'As the Government develops its High Streets strategy and delivers the NHS 10 Year Plan, there is a real opportunity to unlock the full potential of community pharmacy. ‘We stand ready to work in partnership to help deliver better access to care, support healthier communities and contribute to thriving local high streets for the future.’ Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, stressed that wider reforms would also be needed to revive Britain’s town centres. She said: ‘Government can help unlock that potential by tackling crime, creating a more effective planning system and reducing the burden of business rates. ‘This would give businesses the confidence to invest, strengthen the vibrancy of town centres and ensure high streets continue to serve the communities that depend on them.’