I’ve just had my Flu Jab from Boots and they mentioned the store was closing in January, in part because of the amount of theft.

This post was last modified: 26-10-2023 06:15 PM by robertjroy.

Did they mention if it was being replaced with another pharmacy?

When Boots closed in Penge in August, it was acquired by Pyramid Pharmacy who took on the Boots staff.

This post was last modified: 26-10-2023 07:04 PM by rbmartin.

The pharmacist said she would be transferred to another Boots store nearby, so I assume that’s not happening in this instance.

Forest Hill has changed a lot since Boots opened.
You can just see 'Dispensing' on the edge of the sign on the far right hand side if you click on the photo.

   

This post was last modified: 26-10-2023 07:50 PM by Anotherjohn.

thats sad
i've always found the staff there really helpful.
That means the nearest pharmacy will be Kirkdale or the one next to the Jenner which is overpriced and I find the staff there pretty unhelpful

And on Lordship Lane

A
Sogim Pharmacy
Pharmacy
102 Lordship Ln · 020 3714 6265
Closed ⋅ Opens 9 am Mon
In-store shopping·
In-store pick-up·
Delivery
Website
Directions
B
Sadler's Pharmacy
Pharmacy
389 Lordship Ln · 020 8693 4701
Closed ⋅ Opens 9 am Mon
In-store shopping

Don't forget the one on Perry Vale near the old Fire Station.

I don't quite understand how it works but chemists does really survive when they are not close to and designated primary service for a GP surgery close by (and possibly get a financial incentive from the NHS). This does mean that prescriptions can be provided close to the GP surgeries.

Unfortunately Forest Hill ward doesn't have any GPs so it isn't able to keep a chemist on the high street, especially when Boots is competing against Superdrug and Sainsbury's in Forest Hill - both of which seem to provide better value for money on all non-prescription products.

My GP sends my prescription electronically to the nearby chemist just across the road. It is unlikely that patients will ask for a paper prescription and make a trek to any other chemist.

It's been there for as many year's as I can remember, however it is a small store. Perhaps the rent was becoming excessive or the store wasn't viable any longer or Boots decided that it wants to operate larger stores? Who knows, it is the end of an era and another chain leaves SE23.

Boots have been mass closing the smaller community stores for a while now.

The argument must be that if locals really want to use Boots, they can still use the store in Sydenham Road which is the nearest. It also appears they've closed Catford as well due to having a Boots in Lewisham Hospital and in the Lewisham Centre.

Didn't know Boots in Catford had closed, that was a slightly larger branch, I wonder if the Peckham branch is at risk of closure?

Boots in Penge closed a while back - at least it's still a pharmacy though. I'm not sure if it's chain or independent.

As rb said earlier above, it is evidence of Boots closure programme of smaller stores in practice.

What was Penge Boots is now run by a small chain that has pharmacies across London. Peckham Boots is still open.

Lloyds Pharmacy have also been moving out of the retail business. They plan to close their East Dulwich store in the near future. They've closed a store they had in Bellingham and the Peckham store is now independent.

To be honest, I last used Boots Forest Hill for either click or collect or prescriptions before Covid. Since then, my electronic prescriptions are sent to Sadlers opposite Dulwich Library.

The Jenner centre pretty much forced everyone onto e-prescriptions whether they wanted them or not.
It is a small step then to move to an e-chemist and have meds delivered by post.
It is a shame when expertise and choice move from the local area.

12th January 2024 according to the sign on the door.