Local MP tells Post Office to stop ‘fobbing off’ people in KnaresboroughBlood testing to move from Harrogate to Knaresborough due to Sainsbury’s pharmacy closure

A blood testing service in Harrogate is set to move to Knaresborough after the closure of a supermarket pharmacy.

The relocation comes as Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsbury’s on Wetherby Road is set to close.

The service, which is run by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, is operated from the supermarket pharmacy to provide flexibility for patients who require a blood test.

This is in addition to appointments at Harrogate District Hospital.

The service will relocate to Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough on Tuesday, May 2, and will be open Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 11am.

Emma Jocelyn, phlebotomy manager at HDFT said: 

“We know that being able to have a blood test at a community location is extremely popular.

“We were keen to continue this service in the future and we are delighted to have found the ideal venue at the Chain Lane Community Hub which offers ample free parking, is well served by public transport, is fully accessible and has convenient shopping nearby.”

Ms Jocelyn added:

“The Chain Lane Community Hub location will be more convenient for some people, and we know that for others, the chance of being seen more quickly than at our hospital due to the shorter queues will appeal.

“We look forward to welcoming those people who need our help to our fantastic new location.”

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People who would have previously gone to Sainsbury’s for blood tests are being encouraged to visit the Chain Lane Community Hub amid upcoming building work at the hospital, which will reduce the waiting area at the hospital blood test service.

Visitors will not need to book an appointment, however they will need to bring with them an ICE request form from their GP or consultant for the test to be undertaken.

Sue Vasey, from the Chain Lane Community Hub, said: 

“We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the phlebotomy team to the community centre.

“This will be great for the people of Knaresborough and surrounding areas and we look forward to supporting this important new service to the town.”

Lloyds Pharmacy announced in January it was to close 237 of its outlets in Sainsbury’s supermarkets nationally.

The group said it made the decision due to “changing market conditions”.

Italian takeaway to open in former Starbeck pharmacy

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert a former Lloyds pharmacy in Starbeck into an Italian kitchen and takeaway.

Under the plans, the site would be refurbished to include an Italian trattoria on the ground floor and two apartments above.

SSA Architects tabled the proposal on behalf of the developer for the site on Starbeck High Street.

It said that the kitchen would provide employment for between five to eight people.

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The kitchen would be open from 12pm until 12am, according to the proposal.

Meanwhile, both flats proposed as part of the development would be one bedroom.

The developer said in its application:

“The proposal looks to rejuvenate the plot by refurbishing the existing structure within the setting.

“Within this outlined development, the design aims to create an inviting setting for the new residents, and customers for the takeaway business.”

Plan to convert Starbeck pharmacy into Italian takeaway

A former Lloyds pharmacy in Starbeck could be converted into an Italian kitchen and takeaway.

Under plans submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the site would be refurbished to include an Italian trattoria on the ground floor and two apartments above.

SSA Architects, which has submitted the application on behalf of the developer, said in its planning documents that the kitchen would provide employment for between five to eight people.

It would be open from 12pm until 12am, according to the proposal.

Meanwhile, both flats proposed as part of the development would be one bedroom.

The developer said in its application:

“The proposal looks to rejuvenate the plot by refurbishing the existing structure within the setting.

“Within this outlined development, the design aims to create an inviting setting for the new residents, and customers for the takeaway business.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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Harrogate pharmacy customers face long queues outdoors

Queues of up to 20 people waiting for up to an hour to be served have been reported outside a Harrogate pharmacy.

Several residents have contacted the Stray Ferret to complain about regular queues at Lloyds Pharmacy on Knaresborough Road over the last three weeks.

Signs in the pharmacy window say a new dispensary system and lack of staff is creating additional workload.

One resident, Brian Souter, said he gave up after queueing for 30 minutes when there were still eight people in front of him.

He said there were about 20 people queueing, including older people, and said the company needed to ensure the pharmacy had enough staff.

“I can’t stand for very long so I had to leave after 30 minutes. They were doing two in at a time.

“I rang head office to complain about a week ago, it’s not down to the staff inside, they can only do what they can with a few staff. Head office need to come and help.”

A sign outside the pharmacy.

Other residents have also contacted the Stray Ferret to say they endured long queues of between 15 minutes and an hour for prescriptions.

One resident, who lives close by but asked not to be named, said the pharmacy was usually “very efficient” but long queues had become the norm. He said:

“A lot of people are elderly or infirm and to have them waiting outside for up to an hour is ridiculous.”

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A spokesperson for Lloyds Pharmacy said:

“It is always our priority to ensure our patients, customers and colleagues are safe and that all our pharmacies are open and accessible.

“Recruiting new pharmacists became more challenging during the pandemic, and this continues to be the case. We have an action plan in place to address staffing issues.

“In addition, a software issue that caused our dispensary system to run more slowly than normal impacted this pharmacy, causing some delays for the pharmacy team and its customers and patients over the weekend.

“A resolution was swiftly identified and quickly deployed to return the system to normal dispensing speeds.”