A FOURTH pharmacy is to open in Wellington, bringing the number serving the town back to where it was two years ago.

Patients have faced lengthy queues since Wellington was reduced to only Boots and Superdrug following the withdrawal by Boots of its outlet on the Wellington Medical Centre site and the closure of financially-stricken Jhoots.

This week, it was announced that Allied Pharmacies is to reopen the former Jhoots premises behind the now-closed Luson GP Surgery in Fore Street.

Allied bought 129 Jhoots branches around the country during last year and will open in Wellington on Monday (March 9).

Now, NHS Somerset has confirmed it has also approved a fourth community pharmacy planned to open on the Westpark 26 business park, in Chelston.

However, the approval for the family-run firm Imperial Pharmacy Ltd is on hold until March 27 in case any appeal is lodged, failing which the company will then have 12 months in which to open.

NHS Somerset said in the meantime it would continue to work with Allied colleagues in the next few months to support them to provide stable and reliable community pharmacy services.

Wellington MP Gideon Amos said he was delighted with the news, which came only 24 hours after he had welcomed the opening of Allied.

Mr Amos said: “I pay tribute to the volunteer campaigners and the town council who, like me, have added their pressure to get more facilities for the area.

“Putting care, and the NHS, first is what I promised to prioritise if elected MP.”