The government has warned that Jhoots pharmacies may lose their rights to dispense NHS prescriptions after widespread complaints of closures, staffing issues, and delayed pay. The chain’s operational failures have raised serious concerns over patient access and regulatory oversight.
Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock told the House of Commons that Jhoots branches are “falling well below the mark,” with over 150 English outlets suffering from unpredictable closures, medicine shortages, and delayed staff wages. In one recent example, a Jhoots site on the Isle of Wight shut down for days, leaving locals without essential prescriptions.
Staff Unpaid, Services Disrupted
MP Edward Morello (West Dorset) revealed numerous reports from staff who have gone unpaid for months despite payslips being issued, tax deductions made, and pension contributions unfulfilled. Several MPs also highlighted patients forced to travel long distances for drug access, or arriving to find stores closed or without stock.
Government & Regulators Take Action
Kinnock stated that regulatory bodies — including Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) — are initiating enforcement actions against individual Jhoots outlets. Pharmacies could be removed from the pharmaceutical list, thereby losing the ability to fulfil NHS prescriptions. The Minister said officials are exploring ways to strengthen the regulatory framework to act more swiftly in such cases.
Political Fallout & Sector Pressure
Shadow Health Minister Dr Luke Evans warned that communities are suffering: locked doors, no pharmacists, and no medicines. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) also expressed concern that Jhoots failures could “imperil the reputation” of community pharmacy and affect funding negotiations for 2026–27.
Jhoots’ Expansion & Past Problems
Jhoots entered the pharmacy market in 2023, acquiring multiple Lloyds Pharmacy outlets. Ownership is shared between Sarbjit and Manjit Jhooty, though branches under Sarbjit’s control are reportedly more troubled. The company has previously acknowledged “workforce and recruitment challenges.”
Recent Developments & Wider Context
At the 2025 Pharmacy Show, NPA CEO Henry Gregg warned that failing branches — operating without pharmacists or closing without notice — are placing strain on more stable pharmacies forced to absorb extra demand. Some local areas have no alternative pharmacy within reasonable travel distance, raising urgent patient care concerns. The regulatory gaps exposed by Jhoots’ decline are being scrutinized by multiple MPs, with calls for amendments to how pharmacy chains are held accountable.
