A concerned son has complained to the chief executive of Morrisons after its in-store pharmacy in Ripon stopped delivering prescriptions.
Jonathan Parkin’s mother, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Ripon, received free deliveries from the pharmacy for several years.
But the service ceased this month — leaving Mr Parkin’s family rushing to find alternative arrangements before her medication ran out.
During a recent visit to his mother, she told him she was worried about her supply of tablets expiring in a day or two. He helped her call the pharmacy, which told them its delivery van was no longer in use and the service had ended.
Mr Parkin subsequently wrote to David Potts, chief executive of Bradford-based Morrisons. His letter, which was also sent to the Stray Ferret, says:
“My mother is obviously heavily dependant on her medications so to be told this delivery, which she had come to rely upon, and I’m sure many other elderly people have as well, had now been stopped was devastating and very worrying to her.”
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The letter also accused the company of not communicating the news adequately to customers, some of whom, like his mother, are vulnerable. He added:
“We will obviously now have to find an alternative pharmacy with a delivery service, which is a pity as my sisters and I always did our own family shopping as well as our mother’s when we took her prescription in and so will not now be shopping in Morrisons again due to this heartless, penny-pinching decision.”
Mr Parkin, who lives near Pateley Bridge, today told the Stray Ferret he was glad his family became aware of the situation before Monday, when the Queen’s funeral could have caused major problems getting hold of the various tablets his mother takes.
He added he had yet to receive a response to his letter from Morrisons.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Morrisons but has not had a response.
Order repeat medication for Christmas by tomorrow, Harrogate district told
Harrogate district residents are being urged to order repeat medication for Christmas by tomorrow to avoid running out.
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group issued the advice today, saying pharmacy processing times take longer in the run-up to Christmas.
Each year GPs and pharmacies are overwhelmed with patients requesting Christmas medication at the last minute.
Ian Dean, chief executive officer of Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire, which represents NHS pharmacy contractors in the North Yorkshire, said:
“Please only order the items that you need and please do not stockpile medicines.
“Excess supplies of medicines at home can be dangerous and is also wasteful. Once dispensed, medicines cannot be re-used and have to be destroyed.”
The CCG said the quickest way to order a prescription is via the NHS app or GP online services.
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People have also been urged not to stockpile. The CCG said all supply chains were adequately stocked with enough medication for everyone.
The CCG is also encouraging people to stock up on over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and anti-diarrhoea tablets over the festive season.
Most GP surgeries are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.