There are many references and comments on various social media outlets (see below) regarding the current staffing issues at Boots on Rye High Street. The chemist has to keep closing due to the lack of staff and in particular the lack of a pharmacist so their advertised opening times are hit and miss. Pharmacists are in great demand but the available supply seems to be drying up, at least locally it seems.
Rye News has been contacted by various people venting their frustration at the predicament they find themselves in, when medication is needed but unavailable the consequences are often quite serious.
One reader wrote into Rye News today, 26 July with the following request.
“ Dear Rye News,
Could someone do an updated story on Boots the chemist?
Yet again Boots are closed today. This is happening 2 or 3 days a week.
A local informed me that the pharmacist at Rye is now also working at Tenterden, a morning here, an afternoon there.
However, I've called Boots and been told that's not true, and I asked why they don't have a pharmacist there every day, and the staff member claimed they cannot find one to employ full time.
If you also belong to NextDoor there's a lot of people writing about making trips all the way to Rye to collect their medication only to find they are either closed, or the pharmacy does not have their prescription despite being informed their medication is ready by text.
To compound the matter, Ferry Road Doctors Surgery will NOT allow people who live within 1 mile of Rye to go and collect their prescription.
So in theory you could live across the road from the surgery and you're not allowed to collect. But if you live in Peasmarsh you can. Where is the logic in that? “
The complaints in this letter have been backed up by many posts on social media this week, all complaining about inaccurate opening times, lack of information, and ridiculous surgery collection procedures. Just a few among many, are here:
'Any attempt to find them open is fraught with frustration.They proudly display opening times which are totally inaccurate.'
'I asked to collect my prescription from Ferry Road and was told you can only collect if you live outside a one-mile radius. I live within one mile. What is this all about?'
'I have a GP with a pharmacy just a few minutes walk, but because I live within a mile, I have to collect from elsewhere. I don’t drive and have serious heart issues. How on earth can that make sense?'
'My daughter attended A&E at the Conquest last Saturday. They sent her prescription to Boots in Rye. I drove from Pett and it was shut. There were staff in there so I banged on the door until someone opened it. They had no pharmacist apparently, so could not open.'
Boots obviously have serious staffing issues which they are finding difficult to rectify quickly but it must be very difficult for the customer facing team who are caught in the middle, doing what they can. As a possible viable alternative, I went to the pharmacy section at Jempsons in Peasmarsh today (Tuesday 26) and spoke to a very helpful assistant as the pharmacist there was engaged in a consultation. She explained that they had seen a constant stream of people looking to register with them for medication who had experienced problems getting their prescriptions from Boots in Rye.
Jempsons (Peasmarsh) for some is not that convenient unless you live in Peasmarsh and as they are not in the centre of Rye High Street, getting their for some could be problematical, but if you can get there they are happy to take new registrations and do what they can to alleviate the situation and don’t forget, parking is easy and free if you intend driving there.
The pharmacy is open 6 days a week, 8am – 6pm (Monday to Friday) and from 8.00am closeing at 5pm on a Saturday. Jempsons is not open on a Sunday. You can contact them via the main switchboard on 01797 230214 option 6, the pharmacist there is Mr Anthony Samson.
Before anyone points the finger I just want to clarify that this is not an advertorial for Jempsons, I went to them not them to me but I will produce a follow up article shortly when hopefully the current situation may have improved.
