A MAJOR pharmacy chain is to close more than half a dozen branches within weeks.
Lloyds Pharmacy is expected to start pulling down the shutters on seven chemists – most of which are located in Sainsbury’s supermarkets – in Derbyshire and the Isle of Wight from this month.
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Of the closures that are taking place, six out of the seven are branches located in Sainsbury’s.
The branch in Sainsbury’s in Civic Way, in Swadlincote will close on May 30.
New owners are set to takeover the Lloyds Pharmacy in Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon, by the end of the month.
The standalone store won’t close, but it will no longer operate under the Lloyds Pharmacy brand name.
Several closures will then take place in June and July, including in Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Chesterfield, Kidlington and Gloucester.
Below, you can see the full list of Lloyds closures taking place between now and the end of July:
- Sainsbury’s Civic Way, Swadlincote, Derbyshire – Tuesday, May 30
- Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon – end of May (To be taken over by new owners)
- Sainsbury’s Peak Drive, Allenton, Derby – early June
- Sainsbury’s Rother Way, Chesterfield – June 13
- Sainsbury’s Newport – June 13
- Sainsbury’s Oxford Road, Kidlington – July 23
- Sainsbury’s St Ann Way, Gloucester – July 24
Lloyds said the closing date could change as plans are being determined on a branch-by-branch basis.
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But it added that any changes would be confirmed by LloydsPharmacy closer to the time.
A spokesman for the chain said: “Lloyds Pharmacy is reviewing its community pharmacy estate and is selectively selling some branches.
“The majority of buyers are independent pharmacy owners and local businesspeople who have demonstrated their commitment to our branch teams and patients and are well placed to meet the ongoing health needs of the local community.”
Lloyds has already announced the closure of 237 of its pharmacies in Sainsbury’s supermarkets by the end of the year and closed 76 stores in 2022.
Pharmacies across the UK have struggled for years due to cuts in government funding and the soaring cost of medicine.
Chemists are also being asked to pick up extra slack from the NHS by providing more services, such as vaccinations.
The pharmacy industry has lost £1.6billion in the last ten years as the health service’s pharmacy contract struggles to keep pace with inflation.
As a result, pharmacies are facing big cuts to their real-term funding, which is leading to the closures.
Pharmacy chain Boots has also closed a string of stores this Spring – with more still to come.
Boots in King William Street, London, is to close its doors on June 2.
Retailers have been knocked by rising costs as inflation sends prices soaring and less demand among cash-strapped punters.
More companies in England and Wales went bankrupt in March than at any point over the last three years, according to the Insolvency Service.
Here’s the full list of shops and chains disappearing from the high street this year.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
