WH Smith: We’ll stop charging more in hospitals

WHSMITH yesterday agreed to cut prices at its hospital stores after it was accused of exploiting patients and NHS staff by charging more than in high street branches.

Investigations found the retailer was charging up to a third more for water, sweets and stationery. It blamed higher operating costs at these stores but patient groups said it was ‘morally wrong’.

WH Smith said yesterday it would be introducing promotions to hospitals, matching offers in other stores, so prices would be the same in both. But it stopped short of matching prices on food and drink. Instead, it said it would implement a monitoring process to ensure they ‘remain aligned’.

Labour MP Paula Sherriff, who has been campaigning for fairer prices and met with WH Smith representatives last week, said it was a partial victory. ‘It’s a step in the right direction,’ she said. ‘For me, this was never a political campaign, it’s about what is right and what is wrong. They have agreed they will set up a monitoring process so prices will be constantly checked and they will ensure that they are only 1 to 2 per cent apart on the high street and in the hospital outlets.’

WH Smith said different prices in hospitals were not a result of a deliberate pricing policy but because promotions, such as its Back to School sale, or £1 bottle of Buxton water, were not offered in hospitals.

A WH Smith spokesman said: ‘Going forward, we will ensure our high street stationery promotions are always available in our hospital stores and we will continue to monitor average selling prices across all ranges to ensure they remain aligned.’

An investigation by the BBC last month found higher prices at WH Smith hospital stores in London, Wales and Leeds. A can of Coca-Cola, normally around 65p, was 99p at the WH Smith in Morriston Hospital, Swansea. Prices at Marks & Spencer were also found to be higher.