A government Health Minister is looking into the level of pharmacy provision in Wellington after being lobbied by local MP, Gideon Amos.

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, was contacted by Mr Amos who expressed his concern that the number of pharmacies in the town had dropped from four to two.

The facility run by Boots at Wellington Medical Centre in Mantle Street closed last year while the Jhoots pharmacy in Fore Street has been shut since September.

Orange Pharmacy applied to reopen the pharmacy at Wellington Medical Centre.

But it was refused a licence in July by the NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), which said at the time that the town was “already well served by the existing three pharmacies – Jhoots, Boots and Superdrug”.

NHS Somerset has confirmed that another application to open a pharmacy has now been submitted - although it is not believed to be at the medical centre site.

Mr Amos has written to both Mr Kinnock and Jonathan Higman, chief executive of NHS Somerset, calling for Wellington’s pharmacy provision to be improved.

The Minister replied: “The local ICB is aware that the Wellington Jhoots branch closed on September 22 and has received notification of temporary suspension of services since this date.

“As with all sites that have been impacted by temporary suspensions, the ICB is taking contractual action as appropriate.

“In terms of pharmaceutical services within Wellington, there are two other pharmacies, Boots and Superdrug, within 0.2 miles of the closed Jhoots location.

“The ICB has been liaising with those pharmacies regarding the impact of the closure.

“Patients may also use distance-selling pharmacies, also known as online-only pharmacies, which are required to deliver prescription medicines directly to patients’ homes free of charge.”

Mr Kinnock added: “I take the failures of community pharmacies extremely seriously, and businesses must be held to account when they fall short of the standards we expect.

“I will provide a further update to the House (of Commons) in due course.”

Mr Amos said: “I was pleased to see the Minister is taking my concerns, and those of the people of Wellington, seriously.

“I held a surgery in the town last week and several people raised the issue with me. It’s clear we need to improve the town’s pharmacy provision as a matter of utmost urgency.”

An NHS Somerset spokesperson said: “We recognise local concerns around access to pharmacy services in Wellington and we are always grateful to elected representatives in bringing issues to our attention.

“We have received an application to open a new pharmacy in the town, which we will consider early next year – and local insight will be taken into consideration as part of the process.

“Part of our role is to meet local needs, while making sure overall pharmacy provision in any given area is sustainable and reliable.”

NHS Somerset says community pharmacies play a vital role in supporting people’s access to medicines and healthcare advice in their local community.