Asda pharmacy customers in Blackburn are being urged to change chemists as the store is set to close for good due to financial reasons.

The Asda Blackburn pharmacy in Lower Audley Retail Park, Grimshaw Park Road, will be closed from August 3 as “it has been running at a loss for a number of years”.

This announcement has caused “panic”, however Asda has reassured pharmacy colleagues at the store are being supported to find alternate roles.

A note printed in the Blackburn store urges customers to change their chosen pharmacy as soon as possible to ensure prescriptions are received on time, but this is not something staff can do for customers.

Lancashire Telegraph: Note in the Asda Pharmacy storeNote in the Asda Pharmacy store (Image: LT reader)

A spokesperson for Asda said: “Despite the best efforts of our hard-working colleagues, the pharmacy at our Blackburn store has been running at a loss for a number of years so unfortunately following a period of consultation we have decided to close it.

“We recognise this will be a difficult time for our pharmacy colleagues at the store and we are in discussions with all of them to support them through this process, we will do all we can to find alternate roles.”

One resident called Amber is worried the closure will make it harder for people to get their medicines, with hundreds of LloydsPharmacy branches in Sainsbury’s also closing down.  

She said: “It’s difficult enough trying to get your meds on time, let alone changing to a different one when so many are under loads of pressure already. People are obviously going to panic.”

This follows a spate of announcements that were made in January 2023 noting the closure of seven community pharmacies based in Asda, and 237 Lloyds Pharmacy outlets in Sainsbury’s later this year.

The Sainsbury’s Lloyds Pharmacy outlets in Red Bank Road, Bispham is set to close on June 13, but the other three Lancashire branches in Burnley, Bamber Bridge, and Preston are still open for now.

LloydsPharmacy said it will confirm exact closure plans on a “branch-by-branch” basis but expects to complete the process over the course of 2023.

Asda and LloydsPharmacy have not disclosed how many workers would be affected by the closures.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “LloydsPharmacy is withdrawing pharmacy services from our stores over the coming months.

“We will work with them to ensure customers are clear on how they can access an alternative pharmacy provision to meet their needs.”