A VACANT bank premises could be converted into a pharmacy.

Verwood Pharmacy currently shares a building at The Cranborne Practice’s Lake Road Surgery.

The pharmacy is eying a move into the former Lloyds site at Bank Court in Manor Road.

The Cranborne Practice has issued assurances to patients over their prescriptions after Pharmland Ltd, which trades as Verwood Pharmacy, submitted the change of use application for the empty bank building.

A statement submitted as part of the pharmacy’s proposal to Dorset Council’s planning department said the business was looking to move sites.

“However, due to the size of the new site, we also plan to sub-let some of the premises on the 1st floor for office use and on the first floor/ ground floor for related medical and health services such as physio/ therapy/ chiropractor/ chiropodist rooms etc.

“We also plan to have a self-service drinks machine within the waiting area on the ground floor, where customers would be able to purchase tea/ coffee, primarily for consumption on the premises, whilst waiting for appointments/ prescriptions.”

If the relocation goes ahead, the pharmacy would initially look to offer the same opening hours of 7am to 11pm Monday and Saturday, 6.30am to 11.30pm Tuesday to Friday and closed on Sunday.

A separate planning application could follow to install a prescription collection robot at the front of the premises to offer 24/7 availability to patients.

The statement added: “The site was previously used as banking premises under the legacy A2 usage class by Lloyds Bank.

“Lloyds closed their branch in September 2022, and whilst they still currently hold the lease we are negotiating with them and the landlord to take over the premises.”

In a post on social media, The Cranborne Practice said for the time being prescription services would continue as normal with the surgery arranging for prescriptions to be prepared by the pharmacy.

Once the pharmacy moves site, the practice intends to use the space for additional consultation rooms to increase capacity to deliver face-to-face appointments with GPs and healthcare staff.

Practice managing partner Jo Morris said: “The continued co-existence of both the surgery and the pharmacy in the same building limits the development of both organisations.

“A relocation provides us with opportunities to increase available consultation space.

“We will continue to work with the pharmacy to ensure a seamless transition for our patients and their customers to the new premises.”

The application for the former Lloyds Bank site is currently being assessed by council planners.