The Tesco pharmacy closure due to take place on May 24 in the Brook Green superstore has created upset amongst customers in the area.
Residents who use the pharmacy have spoken out on social media, creating petitions and urging others in the area to speak out for the closure to be stopped.
Rose Lloyd, a 74-year-old food writer living two minutes from the superstore, who set up a petition protesting the closure on change.org said: “I think that’s disgusting, to be honest with you.
“I know exactly how companies work towards being accepted in a community and I think it just goes against any of those principles because they’re taking away something that is actually of vital importance to the local community.”
The pharmacies located within Tescos, such as the Brook Green superstore, are often not only the largest and most efficient in their areas, but also the most accessible.
With on site parking and a sense of community that has been built up in the area, customers have become used to the possibility of an efficient and friendly one stop shop for both food and prescriptions.
Regulars now worry for the jobs of their pharmacists come the closure in May.
Tesco announced at the end of February that it would be closing ten of its pharmacies and since then there has been a mounting sense of disappointment and worry amongst both.
Although it is good for business many of the small pharmacies locally are concerned about the sudden influx of customers.
Bahman Moghaddam, 59, who runs the Forest Pharmacy on Blythe Road and has been a pharmacist for over ten years said: “Just think about the number of patients coming here. It means we have to work more. It is good business but more pressure as well. I’m just thinking, but we don’t have enough space.”
As well as oversubscription concerns, these small independent pharmacies are often far less accessible – often with no on street parking available – or step-free access.
A Tesco spokesperson told SW Londoner: “Following a comprehensive review, we took the difficult decision to close a small number of our pharmacies later this year, in line with customer demand.
“We remain committed to providing our customers with the very best pharmacy services and continue to have a network of over 350 pharmacies across the country open and ready to help.”
Featured Image Credit: Rosie Beveridge
