Gideon Amos, Member of Parliament for Wellington, has intensified his campaign to reopen or facilitate the sale of the Jhoots pharmacy located in the heart of the town. After months of uncertainty and intermittent closures, Amos has written to both the pharmacy company and Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, demanding concrete action.
The Jhoots pharmacy on Fore Street has been plagued by irregular hours, with a notice on its door citing closure due to a lack of pharmacists. Although Allied Pharmacies has recently taken over management of 60 Jhoots locations, including several in nearby Somerset, the Wellington branch remains excluded from this arrangement.
Attempts to introduce a replacement provider hit a setback when Orange Pharmacy was denied a licence last July by the Somerset Integrated Care Board. The board justified this by stating that Wellington is sufficiently served by its existing pharmacies: Jhoots, Boots, and Superdrug.
READ MORE: ‘Deadly’ A361 Frome Bypass May See Speed Cut After AI Cameras Record 4,500 Offences
READ MORE: Bath MP Urges Emergency VAT Cut as Local Businesses Struggle Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis
In his direct appeal to Jhoots, Mr. Amos expressed his frustration: “Residents of Wellington have been repeatedly let down by the Jhoots pharmacy. This sudden closure without clear reopening plans is highly disappointing. I urge you to either resume operations with proper staffing and medication supplies or transfer ownership, as you have with other sites in Somerset. Pharmacies are vital to our communities, and Wellington deserves reliable access.”
Addressing the Minister of State, Mr. Amos emphasized the broader implications: “Wellington faces substantial housing growth, making robust healthcare infrastructure critical. Yet pharmacy availability has been neglected, and the indefinite closure of Jhoots exacerbates this problem. Please provide an update on government actions to resolve these urgent issues affecting communities nationwide.”
Responding to the situation, NHS Somerset, responsible for commissioning community pharmacies in the region, acknowledged public concern over ongoing disruptions at Jhoots locations, including Wellington. They reassured the community that unplanned closures are managed following national pharmaceutical regulations. The spokesperson stressed, “Patients must never be left without essential medications. We apply formal contractual measures, such as breach notices and payment withholdings, when necessary.” Since a meeting in September with local partners, NHS Somerset confirmed ongoing collaboration aimed at improving pharmacy provision in Wellington.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Jhoots Pharmacy have also been made but no response has been provided as of yet.