Pharmacy set for move to new space

People in Scunthorpe will have a new-look facility to help care for their health and wellbeing when a popular pharmacy moves into a modern space.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Westcliff Pharmacy is due to move on Monday 9th April to a unit which is being fitted out with £150,000 of investment. The new unit at the redeveloped Westcliff precinct sits a short walk away from its old home on the site.

The pharmacy will be able to offer a wider range of valued services from two consultation rooms inside, compared to the single room it currently has. There’ll also be an improved layout for the dispensary, a bigger selection of over-the-counter medicines and better seating for customers. Together it will all create a fresh and modern look, similar to Lincolnshire Co-op's refitted Heckington Pharmacy (pictured).

All six colleagues from Westcliff Pharmacy and its home delivery driver will move across with the branch to the new unit.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar said: “This is an exciting chapter for our Westcliff Pharmacy. Moving into this new and improved space will enable the team to offer a wider range of valued services to the community, particularly as the Westcliff precinct continues to be redeveloped.”

The pharmacy’s move is part of a redevelopment plan for the Westcliff precinct being led by Ongo Homes. It will also see the closure of Lincolnshire Co-op’s Westcliff Food Store, plus the transfer of its Westcliff Post Office to Ongo Homes.

After plans to revamp the centre were announced, Lincolnshire Co-op offered to continue a food store and post office at the redeveloped Westcliff precinct but this offer was rejected by Ongo Homes in late 2016.

As a result, Lincolnshire Co-op’s Westcliff Food Store will close this Saturday 24^th February. Nine roles are currently under consultation. One colleague has now secured a new role within the Society, and work is ongoing to try and find suitable opportunities for the remaining eight affected colleagues.

Ongo Homes will take on Lincolnshire Co-op’s Westcliff Post Office, and it’s expected that the branch’s three colleagues will also have the chance to transfer over.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter said: “During plans to revamp the precinct we offered to continue running our food store and post office at the site, but this offer was not accepted by Ongo Homes.

“Despite this, we chose to keep our Westcliff Food Store open for as long as possible as we know many people rely on such local services.

“We reluctantly agreed with Ongo Homes that we would shut our food store and set a closing date of Saturday 24^th February, as we understood that new provider Tesco One Stop would open a few days afterwards.

“As a result, we’re now well into the process of winding down the store and its stock levels in preparation to close. Our Westcliff Food Store colleagues, who continued to provide valued services while waiting patiently for confirmation of the closure, are also now preparing for their own futures. “We’re glad that Ongo Homes has also successfully applied to take on our Westcliff Post Office, as we know it’s relied on by many people across the local area.”

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief Retail Officer Mark Finn said: “We’d like to thank our Westcliff Food Store colleagues for their dedication over the years and their attitude during this time.

“They’re a credit to both Lincolnshire Co-op and themselves, and we’re doing all we can to find opportunities for them within the Society if they wish to stay and continue their employment with us. We’ve also offered interview skills training and CV building as many have been with us for a number of years.”