By Nick Horner

Copyright birminghammail

Issues at a chemist in Sutton Coldfield have prompted a GP practice to tell patients to ‘change your pharmacy’. Troubled pharmacy chain Jhoots is said to owe pharmacists, staff and suppliers money according to the pharmacy union, Pharmacists’ Defence Association. It says its members are collectively owed £750,000 in unpaid contract fees from Jhoots, and this has led to some pharmacies being closed. Read more: Poignant moment hundreds of bikers pay tribute to teenager killed in crash In Sutton, the Jhoots Pharmacy, next to the Lea Hilly Surgery in Lichfield Road has a sign up in its window, placed by the Sutton Coldfield Group Practice (SCGP), telling its patients to go elsewhere. The pharmacy was closed on Wednesday (September 24) morning, meaning patients could not get any medications. And the GP practice said there were ‘considerable ongoing issues’ with Jhoots, which took over a number of former Lloyds pharmacies in 2023, following a £17.4 million loan from HSBC. A sign in the entrance to the Lichfield Road pharmacy said: “Important notice regarding Jhoots Pharmacy. “We would like to make you aware that there are considerable ongoing issues with Jhoots Pharmacy. “We strongly advise that you change your pharmacy if you are currently registered with them. “If you are waiting to collect a prescription from Jhoots, please let reception know and we will do our best to reissue the prescriptions for you. “Please note that SCGP has no control over Jhoots, as it is a separate company, and therefore we cannot resolve issues on your behalf. “If you wish to raise concerns with Jhoots, you can contact their head office. Phone: 0121 526 5555; Email@ info@jhoots.co.uk ; Website: www.jhootspharmacy.co.uk .” Read more: Libraries and community centres saved from axe after £500k town council bail out BirminghamLive understands Jhoots is run by two brothers, Manjit Jhooty and Sarbjit Jhooty. There are 153 Jhoots Pharmacies in the UK, registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. And it is understood some 129 are run by Sarbjit. The Ley Hill Surgery Jhoots is said to be owned by LP SD Seventeen Limited, with Sarbjit Jhooty listed as the director. Manjit has posted on the Jhoots Pharmacy website and distanced his part of the business, saying it is a different legal entity to the branch of the business which is in difficulty. Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox Manjit Jhooty has said: “Important Update – Jhoots Pharmacy Brand. “We are aware of recent media coverage regarding the Jhoots Pharmacy brand. “We would like to clarify that Pasab Ltd and Jhoots Healthcare Ltd (t/a Jhoots Pharmacy) operate entirely independently from Jhoots Pharmacy Limited and its associated companies. “While the trading style “Jhoots Pharmacy” is shared, these organisations are separate and distinct. “Our priority remains the wellbeing of our staff, patients, and the communities we serve. “We are committed to ensuring that services across our branches continue to be delivered to the highest professional standards. “If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us directly through the appropriate channels. “Thank you for your continued trust and support. Manjit Jhooty, CEO Pasab Ltd & Jhoots Healthcare Ltd.” Read more: Thief targeting cars in city suburb hunted by police – CCTV appeal There have been reports of staff being ordered to work without pay at a Jhoots pharmacy in Wales, our sister title WalesOnline reports . A staff member said: “Myself and other members of staff are waiting on two months of wages that the company keeps making false promises of when we will receive payment. “We have just finished our 11th week out of operation due to no stock being delivered in eight weeks and no pharmacist for five weeks.” The pharmacists union, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, says in addition to its members being unpaid, it believes the owners of pharmacies are not regulated and is calling for the Government to do more to stop issues like the ones with Jhoots occurring. Read more: Sutton massage parlour temporarily shut down amid concerns it is a ‘brothel’ A spokesman for the Pharmacists’ Defence Association, representing locum pharmacists who have not been paid by Jhoots said: “Pharmacies need a pharmacist present to keep patients safe and the community pharmacy sector relies upon the locum pharmacists who cover shifts when pharmacy owners or employed pharmacists are unavailable. “However, PDA locum members have recently asked for our help due to outstanding fees totalling more than £750K owed after working in “Jhoots” pharmacies. “Those individual health professionals need their outstanding fees paying immediately. “However, this also raises the wider question around the behaviours of some pharmacy businesses and the lack of consequence from either the General Pharmaceutical Council or the government when owners behave in unacceptable ways that impact their patients, staff and/or suppliers. “It often seems that community pharmacy owners face no consequences regardless of their business behaviour and instead continue to receive taxpayer funds and are allowed to operate under the NHS banner. “We call on pharmacy minister Stephen Kinnock to ensure that such owners are held accountable for their actions and any fairly judged to not be suitable to deliver NHS services, are prohibited from doing so.” Get the latest Sutton Coldfield news delivered direct to your inbox BirminghamLive has attempted to make contact with Jhoots Pharmacy on its head office number lusted as being at Hatherton Street in Walsall – but the line went dead after 20 minutes of being on hold. Sarbjit Jhooty has told the BBC : “While we share the name, Jhoots Pharmacy is an entirely separate and independent pharmacy. “We are actively engaging with staff, local partners, and wider stakeholders to address these pressures and ensure that patient care and community services are supported in the long term.”