National retailer Tesco pilots in-store and virtual menopause support with Stella
With the NHS squeezed, could the local supermarket be the new point-of-care for women’s health?
Retail giant Tesco is partnering with leading UK healthcare companies to pilot a new store concept to allow customers to access health services conveniently and easily while they shop.
Included in the offering will be consultations with a clinician on managing menopause symptoms from online menopause clinic Stella. This will include advice and support around Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
The pilot begins in one store in Cheshunt, with two more stores planned for 2025 and then a wider rollout if successful in the future.
Ashwin Prasad, Chief Commercial Officer at Tesco, said:
“Good health starts with good food, but it also relies on people being able to get the right support, advice and care, as early as possible to help prevent ill health and not just manage it. With our network of stores and pharmacies in communities all over the UK, we are uniquely placed to help make food and healthcare accessible to our customers – and reduce some pressure on the NHS too.”
“Our new pilot means customers visiting our Cheshunt Extra store – and other stores in coming months – can now get advice from one of our pharmacists or specialist partners, book a GP appointment for a time that suits them, and pick up healthy food, prescriptions and nutrition supplements, all without making an extra trip. We’ll be testing, learning and listening to feedback to understand what customers think and what further changes we can make to help them look after themselves and their families.”
Health appointments will take place in two new private consultation rooms, delivered in-person by pharmacists, or in person and virtually by other healthcare specialists. The new services available to customers will include access to Bupa’s primary healthcare services (including virtual GP appointments, weight management support and earwax removal), advice on oral hygience, and free and impartial advice on pregnancy and infant nutrition delivered in partnership with Aptaclub.
This builds on Tesco’s existing in-store pharmacy offer which serves half a million customers every week across 365 UK pharmacies located in larger Tesco stores, providing everything from flu jabs and NHS Pharmacy First services, to free blood pressure checks and free advice on cancer, heart disease and diabetes supported by Tesco health charity partners. As part of the wider healthcare offer, further information will also be available from the health charity partners, initially focusing on heart health advice from the British Heart Foundation.