Five city pharmacy bids rejected by health chiefs

HEALTH chiefs have rejected attempts to open a new pharmacy in a busy part of Newcastle hit by closures.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

It has emerged that a number of applications to open new pharmacies in Heaton have been turned down by NHS officials, despite the suburb suffering from a gap in provision.

City leaders have been left seriously concerned at a series of pharmacy closures around Newcastle in the past couple of years and the resulting impact on chronically ill people.

Heaton was among the five parts of the city where Boots has closed down branches, alongside Jesmond, Byker, Cruddas Park, and Kenton.

The loss of that Chillingham Road site came alongside the closure of a Lloyd's inside the nearby Sainsbury's.