Newcastle Central MP this week slammed Boots’ decision to shut its North Kenton pharmacy from 3 March 2024 dubbing it a ”huge blow” for the people of Kenton.
Chi Onwurah, MP said that Boots plays a ”vital role as a community resource”, caring for Kenton residents and surrounding areas. Local councillors Ged Bell, Paula Maines and Stephen Lambert have criticised the chain’s decision and are leading a campaign against the planned closure.
The closure is part of a wider plans to cut costs and axe 300 branches nationally. Boots, the chemists, confirmed plans to reduce its numbers of shops from around 2,200 to just 1,900 in an announcement made in June last year.
Responding to the news Chi said:
”Kenton Boots closing its doors is a huge blow to the area, leaving residents with no local pharmacy nearby.
”My family relied on this chemist when I was growing up in Kenton, and residents who rely on it are now facing difficult choices about how they will access their medicines going forward.”
She added:
”The UK government is doing little to fix people’s access to pharmacies, as they continue to oversee closures and cut essential funding. As a result, people in Newcastle are losing out. A Labour government would expand the role of community pharmacies.”
