Exclusive: A number of locum pharmacists are allegedly awaiting long overdue payments from Jhoots Pharmacy – including one with an unpaid invoice from October, P3pharmacy understands. 

Over the past two days (February 5-6) P3pharmacy has heard from over 10 pharmacists based in a variety of locations around England, all of whom say they are awaiting payment for shifts completed between November 2024 and January 2025 with most of these having unpaid invoices as far back as November. 

One pharmacist said they are still waiting to be paid for a shift completed on October 1^st 2024.

A WhatsApp group set up by locum pharmacists this week to discuss payment issues with Jhoots currently has over 40 members, P3pharmacy understands. 

One locum pharmacist who has worked with the chain regularly for over a year told P3pharmacy that payments used to be made promptly on the first or second of the month until issues with delays arose last autumn.

They said they were not paid for a September shift until the middle of November – two weeks later than expected – and that three emails to management querying the delays had gone ignored before a fourth email received an answer. 

The same pharmacist said they are still awaiting payment for a November shift that was due on January 1^st, despite following up with the company by email on eight occasions.

While most of these emails did not receive a response, on January 25 the company allegedly told this locum it was busy coping with emergency staff absences and on January 29 it allegedly told the pharmacist they would receive their November payment in the week commencing February 3 and their December payment before February 15. 

Another pharmacist who claimed to have previously worked for Jhoots before buying their own pharmacy said the issue arose when the company switched to using an automated system for invoices to ensure that invoices correlate with the responsible pharmacist register. 

This person said: “As a business owner I can see why they take such measures as a lot of time is involved in verification of worked hours. 

“I do not think this hard approach is to everyone’s liking but I can see the logic in it.” 

Jhoots did not respond to requests for comment.  

Last week, the Cornish & Devon Post reported that a branch of Jhoots Pharmacy in Holsworthy – which was previously a LloydsPharmacy store – has been beset by problems including unpaid rent, eviction notices, “continual” closed-door working due to pharmacist absences and late payments to staff.