Jackie Baillie has told of her serious concern that unscheduled pharmacy closures are putting pressure on other health services, leaving patients to scramble for urgent healthcare.

Boots and Lloyds are amongst the big retailers which have closed branches leaving residents in the lurch.

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) – representing individual pharmacists – has claimed that some firms have been operating with limited staff and opting to reduce opening hours rather than paying for locum staff to cover. This is having a profound effect on out-of-hours care on evenings and at weekends.

As well as reducing the options for people seeking advice, the unexpected closure of pharmacies is disrupting addiction and mental health services which support people being treated for alcohol or substance use and ensure supervised consumption of the likes of methadone. According to the PDA, the number of closures is accelerating with the trend becoming worse as some health boards have invited pharmacy owners to apply to close their premises at weekends throughout the summer months.

Some branches of Boots, Lloyds and Asda have also reduced working hours from evenings and weekends which is putting pressure on other health services.

The reason for this is being given as “staff shortages” however the General Pharmaceutical Council has indicated that there is not a shortage of pharmacists but a reluctance by staff to work for certain employers due to conditions of employment.

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “Random pharmacy closures by the big pharmacy companies like Boots and Lloyds are the last thing we need when our NHS is already at breaking point.

“This will pile pressure on other services and put people’s health at risk and it has been happening locally too.

“People are being bounced from pillar to post trying to get help, and every single part of our healthcare system is struggling to stay afloat. Those from West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh are already subject to some of the longest A&E waits at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, but when they show up at their local pharmacy because they have been told to go there first, they are sometimes being met with locked doors. Thankfully we have a range of independent pharmacies locally who provide an excellent service.

“Like so many hardworking health and social care staff, pharmacists are clearly being pushed to their limit but the actions of these big companies in not hiring locum cover in order to save money is simply not acceptable.

“The SNP Government and health boards need to work with the industry to make sure communities can rely on this essential service being there for them when it is so needed.”