Lloyds Pharmacy has revealed pharmacist shortages hitting Swindon's branches are part of a wider recruitment problem.

Three branches in Covingham, Shaw and Stratton have all had to temporarily close this week.

A spokesman for Lloyds Pharmacy said they could not legally open the stores without a qualified pharmacist, meaning the shortage was causing significant issues in the town.

The company claims it has an action plan in place to sort out the staffing crisis but argued that a sector-wide approach is needed.

The Covingham store has locked its doors today but is handing out "pre-assembled and acute prescriptions" on the door.

It comes after the branch fully closed on Monday because there was no pharmacist available. 

Swindon Advertiser:

Signs on the door warn customers that the branch may need to fully close on Thursday because there is currently no pharmacist booked in.

It also read: “We will be closed today between 1-2pm due to the backlog and staff shortages.”

The pharmacy's closure was first reported by a customer on Thursday last week.

A notice on the door reassured customers that the pharmacy will be fully open again all of next week.

 In Shaw Village Centre, the Lloyds Pharmacy was closed for the whole day yesterday "due to unforeseen circumstances".

The branch apologised for the inconvenience.

Swindon Advertiser:

And the Stratton St Margaret pharmacy was closed on Monday and Tuesday.  It was shut on Monday for door service after 12.30pm and yesterday it didn’t open for prescriptions at all.

The signs on the door in Stratton did not disclose why the branch was shut.

A Lloyds Pharmacy spokeswoman said: “Our priority is to provide the best possible service to our patients and customers, ensuring our pharmacies are open and accessible for the provision of medicines and care to all.

"Recruiting new pharmacists and pharmacy teams has become increasingly difficult, and it’s widely acknowledged that there is a very real shortage of pharmacists.

"The challenge is heightened by the introduction of thousands of new pharmacist roles in GP surgeries and other healthcare settings, without a commensurate increase in the number of available pharmacists.

Swindon Advertiser:

"Legally a pharmacist must be present in the store for it to open, therefore at times when locum pharmacists can’t be sourced during periods of sickness and absence, the last resort is to temporarily close.

“We have an action plan in place to address staffing issues, but this situation requires a sector-wide approach; it’s not something LloydsPharmacy and other community pharmacy providers can address on their own.

"We encourage all pharmacy operators to work together with the NHS to solve the short- and long-term workforce challenges.”