Lloyds Pharmacy stores to close

Lloyds Pharmacy

Approximately 190 Lloyds Pharmacy stores in England are to close, owners Celesio UK has announced.

It is unknown if the closures will include any of the nine branches in the Rochdale borough on Oldham Road, Halifax Road, Bury Road, Whitworth Road, Featherstall Road, Harehill Road, Argyle Parade, Rochdale Road, and Kirkway.

This action is a result of recent Department of Health and NHS England cuts to reimbursement policy and increases in retrospective clawbacks.

Cormac Tobin, managing director of Celesio UK, said: “Changes to government policy on reimbursement and retrospective clawbacks over the past two years have gradually made operations at many Lloyds Pharmacy stores commercially unviable.

"We will be doing all that we can to support our affected colleagues and minimise disruption for patients.”