Sainsbury's 'Threat to Local Pharmacies'

12.28.00pm GMT Mon 14th May 2007

There have been strong protests from local community pharmacies in Hampton Hill and Hospital Bridge Road shopping centres, from Hampton Hill Traders Association and Vincent Cable MP at a proposal from Sainsbury's to open a pharmacy at their Hanworth store in competition with the local pharmacies.

Sainsbury's have applied to the Primary Care Trust for support and to the Council for planning permission.

Vincent Cable MP said that "the issue of community pharmacies and competition had been carefully considered in Parliament several years ago after an investigation by the competition authorities and the DTI. It was agreed that it would be disastrous to allow a 'free for all' since the supermarkets would simply drive out the community pharmacists together with the specialist services which they provide - like free home delivery. We insisted that safeguards be put in place; but these do depend on the willingness of the health authorities - like PCT - and local planners to act.

"There is also a genuine concern in the local community that if community pharmacists were to be driven out of business it would deliver a serious blow to the viability of shopping centres like Hampton Hill and the Staines Road/Hospital Bridge Road shops which depend, in significant part, on footfall from the local chemists."