An MSP has been forced to intervene in a growing row over a failing GP repeat prescription service in Cumnock.
Ayrshire Live previously flagged up issues with the service at the town’s Lloyds Pharmacies.
Now MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham, has written to the firm’s parent company to highlight growing waits, meds going missing and long queues outside the pharmacies.
Ms Whitham said the roll-out of the new service has experienced ‘continued problems’ and she wants it reckoned with — and improved.
In her letter to McKesson UK, her second correspondence to the firm in three months, she said: “I understand that the rollout of a problematic IT system by Lloyds has resulted in an unacceptable level of service within the local branches which has resulted in issues with repeat prescriptions going missing, long waits for prescriptions and queues of people having to wait outside for long periods of time.
“Local store staff are working hard, but it is my belief that they are being let down by management that are failing to properly resource the pharmacy which is further compounded by the issues with the new IT systems.”
She added: “I have requested an urgent meeting with Lloyd’s parent company to seek assurances that they have a plan in place to return service levels to an acceptable level as soon as possible.”
Last month Ayrshire Live told how Rab Wilson, a leading figure in the campaign group, Action for Safe and Accountable People’s NHS (ASAP), was forced to make five different trips to a Lloyds Pharmacy after there were delays to his repeat prescription.
At the time he said the new system was “not good enough,” and warned the current issues could have “life threatening consequences” to those who rely on their weekly medication.
Mr Wilson received a response from Lloyds Pharmacy owners, McKesson UK, saying they were “truly sorry” to learn of his problems and said they would pass the matter on to their Customer Experience Team for further investigation.
There are two Lloyds Pharmacies in Cumnock and one in Auchinleck.
A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson said: "Due to staff shortages in recent weeks, our Lloyds Pharmacy in Cumnock has been operating temporary reduced hours. We would like to apologise to our customers and patients for any inconvenience this may have caused.
"These challenges have been caused by an outbreak of Covid-19, resulting in a significant number of our workforce having to self-isolate. In the absence of a full-time pharmacist and other members of staff, we use locums to support provide. Unfortunately, this difficult situation has been compounded by the recent installation of new IT systems.
"Our priority is always to ensure that the community we serve can access the care they need, so in the event of a closure, we signpost customers to alternative pharmacies in the area.
"We apologise for the impact on the community and appreciate their patience at this time.”
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