Intervention at Ayrshire pharmacy amid row over missing meds and growing waits

dailyrecord.co.uk:

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.”The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.