The troubled Jhoots Pharmacy is now facing flak following the abrupt closures of its outlets in various parts of the country.
In the latest instance, a Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan has approached NHS England seeking the removal of pharmacy contract from a branch of Jhoots Pharmacy in his North Somerset constituency, which closed down without any warning.
The MP, himself a pharmacist, recently posted a video on social media outside a shuttered branch of Jhoots Pharmacy in Portishead, commenting that he was “extremely disappointed”.
Al-Hassan and Labour cabinet minister Heidi Alexander had last month raised serious concerns around the chain’s long history of poor performance.
A Jhoots outlet in Sedbergh was shut without warning on August 21, citing the lack of a pharmacist.
SNJ Limited, which runs the facility as a service commissioned by Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, blamed recruitment challenges in rural areas.
These abrupt closures are forcing people in the vicinity to travel long distances to procure essential medications.
Another politician, Ian Roome, a Liberal Democrat MP from North Devon, had written to Jhoots CEO Manjit Jhooty to raise concerns about unexpected closures, staffing issues and supply chain shortfalls in his constituency, including Barnstaple, Braunton and Combe Martin.
A Jhoots pharmacy in North Devon is facing staff unrest over the delay in salaries, while some have been closed due to a lack of stock.
On August 15, the staff at a Jhoots Pharmacy in Bury Street, Abingdon walked out following the absence of a pharmacist and manager for weeks.
