Sainsbury's unveils pharmacy store in Middlesbrough, England

UK-based supermarket chain Sainsbury's has opened an outpatient pharmacy store at James Cook University Hospital, which is part of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation, on 20 February.

The Middlesbrough pharmacy is a first for Sainsbury's, which until now has concentrated on opening pharmacies in its supermarkets.

Besides dispensing, its pharmacies provide a variety of services including cholesterol testing, nutritional advice and flu jabs.

Customers also benefit from five NHS GP surgeries at its Newton, Abbot, Heaton Park, Colne and Newcastle-under-Lyme stores. Several stores in the Manchester area also have private dentist surgeries. The store in Heaton Park also has a podiatrist.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust director of service for pharmacy Alan Hall said in the near future Sainsbury's will be extending weekday hours and open at weekends for the dispensing of out patient prescriptions.

"In addition to this the pharmacy will sell over the counter medicines and offer a community service which will enable staff and visitors to have prescriptions from their GP dispensed." Hall said.

Founded in 1869, Sainsbury's currently operates more than 250 pharmacies, 557 supermarkets and 377 convenience stores across the UK.