The PSNC Chief Executive Janet Morrison has warned LloydsPharmacy’s decision to withdraw its branches from all Sainsbury’s stores is “one of the clearest signals yet” that community pharmacies are “struggling to make ends meet.”
Once again calling on the government to “urgently” give the sector fresh funding, Ms Morrison said increasing cost pressures were continuing to weigh heavily on pharmacies and insisted “many are at breaking point.”
She said the latest development at LloydsPharmacy underlined the impact of the government’s failure to support community pharmacy with funding.
Read the full article on the Pharmacy Magazine website
NAM Implications:
- A clear indicator of the increasing pressures under which retail pharmacy is operating in the New Norm.
- Also in the case of LloydsPharmacy-Sainsbury’s, the involvement of PE means rising interest costs are also impacting the business.
- Meanwhile, increased focus on outlet profitability means it is probable that the estate will continue to be rationalised…
- …to a size that is acceptable to the owners.
- Suppliers may need to modify their ambitions accordingly…
