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Exclusive: Jhoots Pharmacy CEO Manjit Jhooty has asked the Labour cabinet minister Heidi Alexander for a meeting to discuss concerns over its service levels in Swindon as staff at another branch in Oxfordshire walk out claiming it has had no pharmacist for 10 weeks.

The pressure has been building on the pharmacy chain as reports emerged in recent days that two Jhoots branches were allegedly failing to meet patients’ needs, potentially putting their lives at risk.

Staff at its branch in Bury Street, Abingdon, left the pharmacy, which was forced to close, having claimed it had gone without a pharmacist or manager for 10 weeks without any explanation from Jhoots head office, according to the Oxford Mail.

The nearby Malthouse Surgery sent patients text messages containing a link enabling them to change their nominated pharmacy. Staff left the Jhoots pharmacy on August 15.

Concerns about poor service levels at another of its branches in Shaw Village Centre in Swindon prompted the town’s MP Alexander, the transport secretary in the Labour Government, to write to Jhooty demanding answers after patients complained the pharmacy repeatedly closed, failed to have a pharmacist on the premises and did not answer calls.

Alexander and local councillors also started a petition to increase the pressure on the pharmacy chain to improve its service.

In her petition, she said: “Dozens of us have experienced poor service from Jhoots’ pharmacies at Shaw Village Centre – unexpected closures, no pharmacists, empty shelves, medicines unavailable. We deserve a reliable, well-run pharmacy that local people can depend on. That’s why local councillors and I have written to Jhoots Pharmacy to demand urgent improvements.”

It appears the pressure has taken its toll after Jhooty contacted Alexander to request a meeting. The date is yet to be decided.

A spokesperson for Alexander told Independent Community Pharmacist: “Jhoots Pharmacy have responded to request a meeting. This request has of course been accepted and we are looking to secure a mutually suitable date.”

Meeting between North Somerset MP and Jhoots set for September

ICP has also learned the Labour MP for North Somerset Sadik-Al Hassan, who was a pharmacist before his election last year and has expressed concerns about Jhoots pharmacies in his area, will meet with representatives from the chain.

“Sadik is aware of the issues surrounding Jhoots Pharmacy and locally we have also had a number of complaints regarding the service that they run,” a spokesperson for Al-Hassan said.

An online meeting between Al-Hassan and Jhoots has been arranged for September 22 but his spokesperson said they hoped to bring that forward and “make it in-person to address these rising concerns as soon as possible”.