Jhoots Pharmacies Faces Back Pay Claims from Employees

Concerns are mounting regarding the prominent high street pharmacy chain, Jhoots Pharmacies, as employees have raised allegations of being owed significant back pay. The company, which operates 140 branches across the UK, is under scrutiny following claims from the Pharmacists Defence Association (PDA) that locum pharmacists are collectively owed around £670,000 in delayed payments. Reports indicate that regular staff members have faced weeks without wages, leading to financial distress for many as they struggle to manage their living expenses.

The situation has escalated, particularly in locations like the Isle of Wight, where residents have witnessed the closure of four out of five local branches. In North Devon, reports suggest that some pharmacies have not received new stock deliveries for over seven weeks, depriving community members of essential services. A staff member from North Devon shared their frustration: “I am having to sit in a closed empty pharmacy as I have been told if I don’t turn up for work I will be dismissed for breach of contract, even though I haven’t been paid my July wages.”

Similar accounts are emerging from Bristol and Somerset, where pharmacies have remained shuttered for extended periods, citing a lack of staff. One employee expressed their struggle to keep up with household expenses while fulfilling all scheduled work shifts, highlighting the operational difficulties faced by the company.

The issue has attracted attention from Sadik Al-Hassan, the Labour MP for North Somerset and a former pharmacist. He described the situation as “shocking” and has urged Jhoots to relinquish its NHS contracts. “In 2023, Jhoots bought another 40-odd pharmacies that were closing. They were allowed to do that despite their history of poor abilities to open their pharmacy or contract compliance,” he stated. Al-Hassan emphasized that such contract management jeopardizes the reputation of pharmacy services.

The MP noted that Jhoots’ pharmacies have been “unreliably open” and often lack essential stock items for prescriptions. He pointed out a specific incident involving a branch in Portishead, which closed its doors on the Thursday before the last bank holiday and has not reopened since. Al-Hassan is scheduled to meet with representatives from Jhoots Pharmacies later this month to seek explanations and is calling on the NHS to intervene to ensure that patients continue to have access to necessary medications.

As the situation unfolds, Jhoots Pharmacies has been contacted for a response regarding the allegations of unpaid wages and operational disruptions. The growing concerns from employees and the public spotlight may prompt urgent action to address the ongoing issues within the pharmacy chain.