Lloyds closed and sold all its pharmacies in Wales

Lloyds Pharmacy has closed and sold its Welsh branches over "growing pressures" on the pharmacy sector 

Lloyds Pharmacy announced the withdrawal of pharmacy services from all Sainsbury’s stores over mounting "industry pressures" faced by the community pharmacies.

The company had 77 branches at the beginning of this year - out of which five branches closed their doors and transferred the ownership of the remaining 72 to others.

It was announced in June this year that Lloyds Pharmacy branches in Sainsbury's will close its operation throughout 2023.

The following decision came after "changing market conditions" put 2,000 jobs on the line across the UK.

Four Lloyds Pharmacies inside Wales Sainsbury's stores closed within days of the announcement and one in the Roath suburb of Cardiff as well.

The remaining 72 changed hands as confirmed by the figures obtained by WalesOnline on 5 October.

However, Lloyds Pharmacy has not yet updated information on the number of branches closed or the staff impacted by the decision.

The statement released by the pharmacy spokesperson read: "LloydsPharmacy is reviewing its community pharmacy estate and is selectively selling some branches.

"The majority of buyers of these selected branches are independent pharmacy owners and local businesspeople who have demonstrated their commitment to our branch teams and patients and are well-placed to meet the ongoing health needs of the local community.

"The Lloyds Pharmacy team is pleased that its colleagues from these stores will be joining successful, local businesses and that for patients there will be no change in the way they use their local pharmacy," it further read.

The figures obtained by StatsWales on 27 October confirmed that the number came down to 698 community pharmacies in Wales out of 716 - number of pharmacies in 2018-19.

The closure of Lloyds pharmacies indicates a wider issue emerging in the pharmaceutical industry.

The chain is the UK's second-largest after Boots and was acquired by Aurelius, the multinational private equity firm from Sainsbury's last year.