21 job losses as major Eastbourne pharmacy delivery service to close

Seaforth Pharmacy in Westham Business Park, off Eastbourne Road, will be closing down on April 17.

Patients receive their prescriptions via the delivery service and the closure could potentially leaving hundreds of customers in the lurch.

It is understood it is the largest delivery-only pharmacy to the public in Eastbourne and Hailsham.

One worker – who wished to remain anonymous – said three weeks ago staff were told they would be made redundant. This week the closing date was confirmed.

Hundreds of people rely on the service, according to the staff member, and they are mostly elderly.

The worker said, “They don’t understand, they have been with us for years, they don’t know what to do.

“They have been given a letter with a list of chemists.”

The worker says most of the Hailsham customers will transfer to the Hailsham branch of Paydens, which owns Seaforth, in Hailsham, but those in the rest of the Eastbourne area have been just told to find a new chemist.

“Customers are very unhappy,” they said, “It’s been badly handled. Why couldn’t they transfer it?

“They are leaving it up to the customers themselves to sort out.

“If you are old it’s a worry, they are going to have to get helpers to do it for them, which is more strain on them.

“I would like to help them out but I’m not allowed to.”

The staff member said the reason given for the closure was due to a lease coming to an end.

The company’s branch of Seaforth in Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, will remain open.

Seaforth Pharmacy in Westham has confirmed it will be closing and 21 staff will be losing their jobs.

This newspaper has contacted Paydens for comment but the company refused to do so.