A Mundesley pharmacy has apologised for “any inconvenience caused to customers” after reports that pharmacist shortages have been causing the centre to temporarily close during normal opening hours.

Well Pharmacy, formerly known as The Co-operative Pharmacy, is a UK pharmacy chain which runs the Mundesley centre, in High Street.

Well Pharmacy, which is the largest independent pharmacy company in the country, has said it has been facing “operational challenges” at the coastal pharmacy, resulting in a drop-off in its “normal level of customer service”.

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It comes as sources, who wished not to be named, told this newspaper that some pharmacists at the centre have been made redundant.

This is said to have caused staff shortages, forcing the pharmacy in Mundesley, near Cromer, to temporarily close at times when it is usually open.

It has meant some residents have been unable to pick up prescriptions.

Possible redundancies and staff shortages were reported to Well Pharmacy, but the company did not comment on the issue specifically.

Instead, a spokesperson said customers can sign up to a free text messaging service to be notified when their prescriptions are ready to be collected.

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A spokesperson for Well Pharmacy said: "Our pharmacy in Mundesley has unfortunately been experiencing some operational challenges.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers.

"Our management team are supporting the pharmacy to ensure that we can get back to our normal level of customer service as soon as possible. 

“We encourage patients to sign up for our free text messaging service to alert them by text when their prescription is ready. This will avoid unnecessary trips to the pharmacy."

It comes as 82pc of pharmacy team members at NHS community pharmacies in England reported staff shortages, with 23 per cent of pharmacy owners and head office representatives saying they had to close because of this, according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) ‘The Pharmacy Pressures Survey’ 2022.