St John’s Hospital in Livingston is about to lose its store, utilized by sufferers, workers and guests.
The store’s operator Compass isn't renewing the lease, having signed a 12-month extension final yr.
Footfall within the store has been at 65 per cent of pre-pandemic ranges and Compass mentioned the shop had not been viable “for a while”.
A spokesperson for Compass Group Healthcare Retail mentioned: ”Our lease at Livingston hospital has expired and we took the choice to not renew as the shop has not been financially viable for a while.
“We recognise this can be a difficult time for our workers and we now have been doing all that we are able to to seek out them various employment at different websites we function.”
West Lothian Council chief Lawrence Fitzpatrick referred to as for an intervention by the Cupboard Secretary for Well being.
He advised the Native Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m very involved to be taught that the store will shut on July 23 and that 5 workers shall lose their jobs.
“The store is an important a part of any main hospital and offers all kinds of products for sufferers, workers and guests.
“It will have the impact of our a lot cherished St John’s being the one main hospital in central Scotland with out a store for important toiletry items, newspapers and magazines, greeting playing cards, confectionery and the like.”
Councillor Fitzpatrick added: “A gentle stream of sufferers use the store every day The closest retail facility is the Co-op reverse the hospital entrance on Howden Highway West however that might be a harmful journey for sufferers with ambulant or cognitive impairment.”
Compass has operated the hospital store for the final 13 years.
Aris Tyrothoulakis, the positioning director at St John’s Hospital, mentioned: “The present store tenant has served discover that they're terminating the lease on the finish of July 2022. We're at present within the technique of discovering a brand new tenant to interchange the service as quickly as doable.
“The store is one in every of a number of areas within the hospital for workers and sufferers to purchase food and drinks together with the canteen and the cafe, store and different retailers that promote a variety of merchandise are inside strolling distance.”
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