Customer concern as pharmacy shuts
A CUSTOMER has claimed the closure of a town chemist will make things “very difficult” for disabled people and mothers with children.
Lloyds Pharmacy is reportedly shutting its branch on Irwell Street, Bacup later this year.
In a letter of complaint seen by the Free Press the customer wrote: “As a long term disabled customer I am appalled that you are closing the only Pharmacy in Bacup that has parking outside. I have been informed today that I will have to go to Bacup Health Centre in future to pick up my prescriptions.
“There are very, very limited parking facilities at the Health centres and a road has to be crossed to use your Pharmacy there, this will be very difficult not only for disabled people but for mothers with children who need to access your services.
“I hope that you will look again at this decision taking into account the needs of your customers and the bigger picture as once again you are closing the ONLY pharmacy with parking outside.”
Coun Jackie Oakes, who is Rossendale council’s cabinet member for health, said the decision was “disappointing”, but as a private business essentially it was a matter for Lloyds.
She added: “It’s a problem because they have the Lloyds at the health centre in Bacup that’s not open on Saturday, so that leaves the only chemist in Bacup on a Saturday as Boots. That’s not really ideal. It’s disappointing, but pharmacies are a business like any other.”
She said many people had got their own preferred branches for different reasons, adding: “When lockdown started and volunteers were picking up prescriptions from chemists I think it was a bit of an eye opener for volunteers the differences between the chemists and how efficient they were.”
A letter from Lloyds Pharmacy seen by the Free Press, said: “Please accept my sincere apologies for any disappointment that you have experienced due to the Business Decision to close down this pharmacy.
LloydsPharmacy regularly reviews every one of our pharmacies to ensure of their operational efficiency.
“Unfortunately a small quantity of our pharmacies are closing due to this review.
“We know this is disappointing, it is not a decision that our leadership can overturn. Once again I apologise for the inconvenience this decision causes.”
Lloyds Pharmacy did not respond to requests for a comment.