Short-notice island pharmacy closures spark concern

Customers have arrived at pharmacies on the Isle of Wight, only to find them closed

Short-notice closures of pharmacies on the Isle of Wight are causing "real problems" for patients, a health consumer body has warned.

Four of the island's five branches of Jhoots were closed on Monday, with several reopening on Tuesday.

Healthwatch Isle of Wight said people had reported travelling to pharmacies only to find them closed, with other pharmacies having to take on their prescriptions.

The NHS said it was working with GPs and pharmacies to put "contingencies" in place for patients to collect medication. Jhoots has been approached for comment.

Jhoots pharmacies in Cowes, Ryde and Sandown were among those closed.

A notice on the door of the East Cowes branch said: "Unfortunately, due to a pharmacist not being available on site, we will not be able to dispense your medication."

Joanna Smith of Healthwatch said patients were having problems obtaining medicines

Joanna Smith, of Healthwatch Isle of Wight, said: "People are telling us that the pharmacy hasn't got enough stock so they can't get medication they need and other items.

"They're concerned about the short notice and concerned about lack of pharmacists."

She said there had been questions raised about the pharmacy chain since it took over Lloyds Pharmacy branches on the island in 2023.

"People are really worried and of course it particularly affects people with young children, people at work, people with mobility problems that don't find it easy to get to the pharmacy on a day-to-day basis," she said.

"Nationally there's an issue with the contracting for pharmacies and the funding, so that needs to be resolved because this is not just an issue on the island, it's nationwide."

Customers found a note on the door of Jhoots in East Cowes

Regent Pharmacy in East Cowes said it had seen a "daily influx" of patients from a nearby Jhoots branch because it had not been able to fulfil prescriptions.

"We've got a duty of care for patients but we're feeling the pressure and the team are finding it quite hard," it said.

The island has had long-standing issues with obtaining stocks of drugs that are reliant on ferry links to the mainland.

James Roach, director of primary care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said he was "concerned" by the short-notice closures.

"We don't want anyone's medicine supply to be affected and that remains our priority," he said.

'Widespread issue'

"In the medium and long term, we'll be looking at how we can ensure appropriate supply and positioning of pharmacies on the island in the future.

"We've been working hard to put in place contingencies in terms of where patients can access medicines, alternative sites and we're also working with GP practices to ensure we're really clear where people can pick up prescription medicines and where they can get wider support."

A survey published earlier this year by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pharmacy found medicine shortages were a "persistent and widespread issue".

The government has previously blamed "a decade of underfunding and neglect" for issues affecting community pharmacies

Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We want them to play a bigger role as we shift care out of hospitals and into the community through our Plan for Change, and this year we gave community pharmacies a bigger funding boost than any other area of the NHS."