Jhoots ordered out by GP over lack of pharmacist

Jhoots has been told to leave its premises in Victoria Square, Portishead, by the end of September

A pharmacy has been told to leave a GP surgery by the end of the month because of issues including "a near constant lack" of a trained pharmacist on site.

Portishead Medical Group (PMG), which runs the surgery in Victoria Square in the town, shared the news about Jhoots in a letter to patients.

It comes several days after North Somerset MP Sadik Al Hassan told the BBC the Jhoots chain should be "shut down" over similar issues reported at multiple other branches nationwide.

The boss of the Portishead branch, Sarbjit Jhooty, has been contacted for a response, but has previously admitted to "workforce and recruitment challenges" in the region over "many years".

In the letter, which has been shared on social media, the GP surgery said: "We would like to inform you that PMG has formally given notice to Jhoots pharmacy services and have asked them to leave the building adjacent to the practice by the end of September.

"We have had concerns over a near constant problem with lack of a trained pharmacist with an NHS smart card, lack of medications to issue and ad hoc closures on an increasing basis.

"This has led to patients being disillusioned with the service and a lot of duplicate work for us as patients seek to have duplicate prescriptions issued."

Portishead is not the only place where such issues with Jhoots have been raised.

Earlier this month residents in Wiliton near Minehead said their Jhoots branch had been consistently closed for three to four weeks, despite a sign in the window saying it simply had no pharmacist "today".

The BBC is also aware of staff being owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.

The allegations relate to branches owned by Sarbjit Jhooty and not Manjit Jhooty, who also owns around two dozen across the country.

Responding to PMG's announcement, Sadik Al Hassan, who is the MP for North Somerset and a former pharmacist himself, said he supported the decision.

"The irresponsible choices that Jhoots have made around how they run their business, treat their staff and fail to pay their bills has put patient safety in Portishead under pressure," he said.

"I of course understand and support the difficult decision that Portishead Medical Group have been forced to take."