Vulnerable at risk without pharmacy, resident says

Margaret Francis said the nearest community pharmacist was more than two miles away

About 40,000 people living in a town in Kent have been left without a pharmacy after its last community pharmacist closed.

Jhoots Pharmacy in Rainham Shopping Centre stopped dispensing prescriptions in August.

Local resident Margaret Francis said: "It appears as if the elderly, disabled, sick, etc have become invisible."

Jhoots Pharmacy has been contacted for comment.

The General Pharmaceutical Council said it had taken enforcement action on five branches of Jhoots Pharmacy across the country, which included issuing improvement notices.

Ms Francis said the nearest community pharmacist was now more than two miles away.

"We've got a few vape shops, we've got charity shops galore [but] no bloody pharmacy," she added.

Ms Francis said she had contacted the local NHS Integrated Care Board, NHS England, Medway Council and local Labour MP Naushabah Khan.

"I'm disgusted," Ms Francis added.

Jhoots Pharmacy in Rainham stopped dispensing medicines in August

Khan, the MP for Rainham, said Jhoots Pharmacy was letting down local residents.

"A reliable local pharmacy isn't a luxury, it's a vital part of our healthcare system," she added.

Khan said there had been ongoing problems with Jhoots Pharmacy in Rainham, including complaints of it closing without notice and staff not being paid.

"I have raised these concerns with Jhoots, the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board," the MP said.

In a statement, a Medway Council spokesperson said: "The Rainham locality is served by five other community pharmacies and one dispensing GP practice, as well as further pharmaceutical provision being available in neighbouring localities."

The Department of Health & Social Care said it was unable to comment on individual cases.

However, a department spokesperson added: "We're giving the sector a funding boost of almost £500m this year, more than any other area of the NHS, and are expanding the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians."

But according to analysis by the National Pharmacy Association, between October 2022 and October 2024, Kent had 17 permanent closures, Surrey had 19, West Sussex had 10 and East Sussex had six.