Residents in Tiverton, Minehead, and Williton have reason to feel hopeful after Rachel Gilmour MP announced that Allied Pharmacies has agreed to take over several local pharmacy sites. The rescue deal follows months of pressure from Gilmour and other local stakeholders over the poor performance of Jhoots Pharmacy, which had seen some of its branches close and service levels drop.
In a recent statement, Allied Pharmacies confirmed that while many of these locations had temporarily shut down, they were committed to reinstating essential pharmacy services. This includes the local branches in Tiverton (Newport Street), Williton (next to Williton Surgery, Robert Street), and Minehead (Baytree House, Townsend Road). The deal has been hailed as a crucial step towards improving pharmacy services across the region.
Rachel Gilmour MP has been a vocal advocate for better pharmacy services in the constituency. Her efforts to address the ongoing challenges faced by local pharmacies have included writing to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, on multiple occasions. On 16th October, Gilmour highlighted the struggles of the Tiverton branch of Jhoots, which closed its doors, putting even more pressure on the remaining pharmacies in the area. Less than two weeks later, on 30th October, she wrote again, this time supporting a request from Williton Parish Council to restore pharmacy services in Williton.
In addition to her written efforts, Gilmour raised these issues directly in Parliament, where she discussed constituent concerns with Minister Kinnock. During this exchange, Kinnock assured her that his department was actively reviewing pharmacy business regulations and that he would meet with the General Pharmaceutical Council to discuss solutions. Gilmour had previously raised concerns that local NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were hindered by existing pharmacy contract regulations, which were preventing swift action to resolve the issue.
While the deal between Allied Pharmacies and Jhoots is seen as a significant victory, Gilmour is keen to stress that the fight is far from over. “My office has heard from so many constituents about the unacceptable Jhoots Pharmacy services in both Mid Devon and West Somerset,” said Gilmour. “Following my continued pressure on the Minister, I am pleased to hear that Allied Pharmacies have struck a deal with Jhoots and now plan to reinstate essential services.”
However, Gilmour added, “Although this feels like a massive campaign win, my office will continue to observe this issue closely to ensure constituents don’t have to face long delays in receiving life-improving and life-saving prescriptions.”
The deal, which is set to bring much-needed relief to the community, could help alleviate some of the pressures on existing pharmacies that have struggled to meet growing demand. For local residents, this development brings hope that their healthcare needs will soon be better met, with accessible and reliable pharmacy services close to home.
As Gilmour continues to push for improvements in local health services, the long-term impact of the rescue deal will depend on how quickly Allied Pharmacies can restore full operations at the affected sites. For now, constituents will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks.