Orange will be the closest HCF branch for Bathurst residents by the end of this month.
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HCF has decided to close the Bathurst branch, which operates as a kiosk within John Matthews and Co Pharmacy, on July 29, saying an increasing number of members are contacting the company online or over the phone.
Hannah Heiner, who owns John Matthews and Co Pharmacy with her husband Marcus, said she would be sad to see the kiosk close.
“We are very disappointed that HCF has decided to close the Bathurst branch,” she said. “We were hopeful that we could come to an agreement where it would be possible to open the branch for a shorter number of days.
“We realise that a lot of customers, the elderly in particular, will find it difficult not having access to the internet.
“It’s just a sign of the times that a lot of things are going online.
”We are very sad to see Judy and Daniele go.”
She said the two HCF staff members had been at the pharmacy for many years and “staff and customers are very fond of them”.
A HCF spokesperson said the decision to close followed a “careful review”.
“While branches are used by some of our members, we are increasingly seeing our members choosing other ways to do business with us, such as online or over the phone,” the spokesperson said.
“This means many members don’t want or need a branch to visit in person.
“In this case, maintaining the kiosk is not sustainable, so we have to make the difficult decision to close.
“The HCF kiosk in Bathurst has been an important part of the local community for more than 20 years.
“We thank the two members of staff, employed by John Matthews Pharmacy, who have served the community with dedication over so many years.”
The spokesperson said local members could use HCF’s new website, the HCF My Membership app and its “Australian-based” phone customer service teams.