WH Smith sells 99p toothpaste for £8 in hospitals

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/wh-smith-sells-75p-toothpaste-for-8-in-hospitals-a3837206.html

EVENING STANDARD
WH Smith sells 99p toothpaste for £8 in hospitals
Sophie Williams

The toothpaste was spotted on sale for £7.99
WH Smith has launched a review of the price of goods sold in hospitals after toothpaste was found on sale for £7.99.

The newsagent which has outlets at 129 hospitals across the country was also found to be selling essentials such as nappies and mouthwash at a heavily marked up price.

It has since reviewed and corrected the pricing and any surplus profits created as a result will be donated to charity.

A WHSmith spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to our customers for a small number of recent pricing errors in our system. The errors have now been rectified and the extra profits from these sales will be donated to charity.”

At one outlet at Pinderfields Hospital, part of the Mid Yorkshire Hospital trust, a 75g tube of Colgate toothpaste was on sale for £7.99, when the same product can be bought for 99p in Superdrug and £1 in Sainsbury’s.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Simon Stevens, head of the NHS said: “These retailers should think again about jacked-up prices which affect poorly patients, their family visitors, and hardworking hospital staff.”

While Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “When people are unwell and in hospital, and therefore unable to go elsewhere with any ease, they should be able to expect retailers not to exploit their situation for profit.”

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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