Calls on Gloucester Quays Sainsbury’s to retain pharmacy as Lloyds announces closure

There calls for Sainsbury’s to retain its pharmacy at their Gloucester Quays store.

Newly-elected Gloucester City Councillor Rebecca Trimnell (LD, Westage) has voiced disappointment over the planned closure of the Lloyds pharmacy at the superstore.

Posters have been put up over the dispensary at Sainsbury’s Gloucester Quays advising shoppers that the pharmacy will be closing on July 24.

Cllr Trimnell says she is surprised that there will no longer be a pharmacy inside Sainsbury’s after July considering how many new homes continue to be built around the Quays and Hempsted.

“Not everyone wants to have their medication delivered and for some people who have health conditions, but continue to have reasonable mobility a trip to their nearest pharmacy, which is also within the walls of where they can also undertake their food shopping too, is productive time well spent out of the confines of one’s home.

“It feels that we are seeing yet another cost-cutting measure, which has overridden any considerations into the impact of closing this pharmacy on near-by residents.

“For the sake of everyone, I strongly appeal to Sainsbury’s to negotiate for another pharmacy to replace the Lloyds one that is closing.”

Just seven years after buying the in-store services for £125 million, Lloyds Pharmacy revealed in January it was closing all 237 of its pharmacy sites located in Sainsbury’s supermarkets in response to “changing market conditions.”

How the left space will be used is believed to differ from store to store and what will happen to the space at the Sainsbury’s Gloucester Quays has yet to be confirmed. Sainsbury’s and Lloyds Pharmacy have not responded to requests for comments.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk