Lloydspharmacy Charges Patients for Diabetes Screening and Blood Pressure Verification



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Since yesterday (22 May), patients pay £ 5 for diabetes screening and £ 3 for blood pressure checks. Customers who pay for any of these services will receive a £ 5 voucher when they spend £ 15.

The multiple will periodically run campaigns – such as Diabetes Week in June – where these services will be made free for a specified period of time, he said.

Nigel Swift, director of retail sales and marketing for Lloydspharmacy's parent company, McKesson UK, said he was "proud" that the company has conducted more than two million tests of type 2 diabetes and blood pressure "completely free".

"However, with the constant pressure to improve efficiency, this model has become untenable for us," he told C + D.

"We understand that this change may take some time to get used to our customers, but it's not a decision we've made lightly," he added.

"Many companies continue to feel the effects of funding cuts – and all must make difficult but necessary business decisions."

"The harsh reality is that we need to be commercially sustainable to continue to provide the best possible care for our patients."

Asked by C + D about the impact of multiple billing early on these services, Mr. Swift said, "As much as possible, we will direct clients to alternative free services – which, we understand, could have affect the number of services we provide. "

You can read Mr. Swift's full explanation to C + D about billing patients for these services.

This is not the first time that Lloydspharmacy has significantly changed its business model to cope with funding cuts. The multiple has sold or closed about 200 branches in the last two years (you can see their locations here) and revealed to C + D in January 2018 that he had begun charging some patients for drug deliveries.

Earlier this month, its parent company cited funding cuts and "competitive pressures" in the UK as a reason for the 72% drop in earnings from its European operations.

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