The troubled Jhoots Pharmacy once again figured in the Parliament when a Conservative party member Simon Hoare raised the issue during the prime minister's questions.
Hoare described Jhoots Pharmacy as "de facto bankrupt and possibly even insolvent too".
He said, "While His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is being told by Jhoots that staff are being paid, they are not."
Hoare cited the example of Lana-Olivia Gulston and Blake Horwood of his constituency who have not been paid since 18 July.
"They are resorting to the kindness of friends and the support of food banks to make ends meet," he added.
He wanted the prime minister to convene the three departments - Department for Business and Trade, HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions, alongside the Department of Health and Social Care to secure a better, fair deal for patients and Jhoots employees, who are currently trapped in employment — "not being released by being made redundant and not being paid?"
Prime minister Keir Starmer termed the issue as serious and said, "It is simply unacceptable that customers and staff have been so badly let down."
He said he will be meeting the relevant minister in this regard.
Starmer pointed out that officials are currently reviewing whether the integrated care boards and General Pharmaceutical Council need additional powers to address pharmacy businesses that do not play by the rules.
That could include powers for the council to go after business owners in addition to the pharmacy professionals. "More detail will be provided when the member meets with the minister, but I thought it helpful to give those two indications."
Last week, Health and Social Care minister Stephen Kinnock had told the House of Commons that services at Jhoots Pharmacies are "falling well below the mark".
The government had warned that pharmacies could lose rights to dispense NHS prescriptions following a series of complaints.
All the 151 Jhoots branches are owned, at least in part, by either Sarbjit or Manjit Jhooty.
The financial mismanagement only relates to the pharmacies under the ownership and operation of Sarbjit Jhooty, who runs 129 outlets.
Manjit Jhooty, Director of Jhoots Healthcare Ltd and Pasab Ltd, owns and operates 21 pharmacies.
Both entities are independent businesses and share only the Jhoots Pharmacy brand name.
