Long queues after town's other pharmacy shuts

Queues of up to an hour long have been reported at a Shropshire pharmacy after the other chemist in town shut.

Wem residents must go to Rowlands Pharmacy on New Street following the closure of the chain's other branch about two weeks ago.

Those affected said it was not easy for everyone to access the one remaining dispensary, and the demand for services showed two were needed.

Rowlands Pharmacy apologised and said it recognised some patients had experienced longer waiting times, adding the Easter bank holiday period had also placed additional pressure on local healthcare services.

This pressure could often lead to higher demand over a shorter number of working days, they said.

Stan Barry waited for almost an hour, but found his prescription had not arrived and was told to return another day.

"We've got roads being dug up, we've got power cables going in, potholes being filled up, you've got to move from one side of the town to the other," he said.

The Wem resident said he was not trying to criticise staff who "work extremely hard trying to find the stuff".

"All I can look at is the end point that to stand there for an hour and wait and then be told 'come back' I just don't think is on."

Janet Bromley stated another chemist was needed.

She said: "I'm not the oldest person in Wem, and I know a lot who got off the bus by the Co-op wouldn't be able to walk down to the other pharmacy."

Rowlands Pharmacy is part of Phoenix, which said providing "safe, high-quality care" remained its "absolute priority" and pointed out community pharmacies had been facing "sustained financial pressure for a number of years".

The merger of its two pharmacies was carried out through the formal NHS regulatory process, it added.

"As with any service consolidation, there can occasionally be a period of adjustment while prescription volumes, workflows and patient demand settle into the new arrangements," a spokesperson said.

Phoenix said it had also taken steps to support the pharmacy team, including deploying additional staff.

It added it would continue to review the service and make further adjustments if necessary.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.