LloydsPharmacy is looking to acquire a number of extra chemists in NHS hospitals as part of its expansion plans.

LloydsPharmacy owner Celesio reported a 25% increase in profits

The Celesio-owned retailer and healthcare provider is believed to be talking to health chiefs about managing more hospital pharmacies to add to the 40 it already operates, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A Celesio UK spokeswoman told Retail Week: “LloydsPharmacy operates several hospital pharmacies and it is part of our ongoing business strategy to seek new contracts as they become available.”

Cormac Tobin, Celesio UK’s managing director, has said he wants to help ease the burden on the NHS by taking up some of the slack.

He told Retail Week last month: “Our relationship with the NHS and Government is getting stronger. The NHS is saying ‘can you give us solutions to keep people out of A&E and solutions to do more healthcare in the community in your stores’.”

In July, LloydsPharmacy agreed a £125m deal to acquire 281 pharmacies from Sainsbury’s. Four of the pharmacies are located in hospitals.