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The Government cabinet minister Heidi Alexander has written to Jhoots chief executive Manjit Jhooty demanding answers over why its branch in a Swindon village is putting patients’ lives at risk by repeatedly closing, failing to have a pharmacist on the premises and not answering calls.

Alexander, who is the transport secretary and Labour MP for Swindon South, pressed Jhooty for answers after insisting she had held “dozens of conversations on the doorstep about the pharmacy” in Shaw Village Centre.

Alexander, who launched a petition to increase the pressure on Jhooty, warned the pharmacy’s alleged failings, which she said included empty shelves, were not “just inconvenient” for people who are unwell but “unsafe”.

Labour MP: Jhoots must make urgent improvements

Patients’ concerns about the pharmacy’s service prompted Alexander to write to Jhooty asking him to implement “urgent improvements” and insist “local people deserve better”.

Her letter was signed by local councillors Rose Llewellyn, Fay Howard and Joshua Yossarian Owen.

In her petition, Alexander said: “Dozens of us have experienced poor service from Jhoots’ pharmacies at Shaw Village Centre – unexpected closures, no pharmacists, empty shelves, medicines unavailable.

“We deserve a reliable, well-run pharmacy that local people can depend on. That’s why local councillors and I have written to Jhoots Pharmacy to demand urgent improvements.”

Councillor Llewellyn told the Swindon Advertiser the pharmacy’s issues could have serious consequences for patients, particularly the elderly and less mobile.

“Jhoots took over from Lloyds Pharmacy in Shaw some time ago. You expect some teething problems early on and there were, but they haven’t been sorted out,” she said.

“And we thought it was long enough and time to try and press Jhoots harder to fix the issues.”

Shocking pharmacy, never seen anything like it!

Patients took to social media to air their concerns about the pharmacy. One posted on Facebook: “My dad has to get a taxi to another pharmacy rather than walk to his local one as they never have a pharmacist!” Another said: “Shocking pharmacy, never seen anything like it!”

This is the latest in a series problems Jhoots Pharmacy has reportedly had in other parts of England.

In April, it was kicked out of a building in Folkestone for allegedly breaching its tenancy agreement and in the same month, it closed a branch in Devon amid reports of staff resignations, prompting a local councillor to accuse it of “broken multiple promises”.

Locums have also claimed they are owed money for shifts they worked at Jhoots branches. Its most recent accounts for the year ending December 31, 2023, show Jhoots Pharmacy Limited made a pre-tax loss of £5,028,184.

Independent Community Pharmacist has contacted Jhoots Pharmacy for a response.

Image: www.parliament.co.uk