Historically, the pharmacy profession in the United
Kingdom, like most other countries, comprised two
main branches: community and hospital. Smaller
numbers of pharmacists are employed in industry and
academia. The function and organisation of the profession
are like those in North America, and unlike
most of Europe, in two main respects. Firstly, multiple
retail pharmacy ownership is allowed and has become
the norm. Secondly, hospitals tend to employ relatively
large numbers of pharmacists whose primary
role is giving clinical advice rather than supplying
medicines