HEALTH chiefs have been asked to investigate complaints about the prescription service provided by Lloyds Pharmacy in Williton in the wake of growing concern from local people using the facility. Disgruntled patients claim problems with incomplete prescriptions and a system so inadequate that queues often stretch outside the pharmacy have become almost commonplace over the last few months. And people with multiple-repeat prescriptions have sometimes had to make several visits to pick up all their medication. The pharmacy, which moved into new purpose- built accommodation adjacent to the Robert Street GP surgery earlier this year, is understood to have lost around ten staff, many with years of experience, over the last year. Now the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT) is looking into the matter. And in a statement issued yesterday (Thursday) Lloyds admitted there were problems at its Williton outlet. Nick Mortimer, the company's superintendent pharmacist, said: "We are aware there have been issues and I would like to apologise to customers for the increased waiting times. "The area manager has been working very hard to address the issues at this pharmacy and, as a result, we have now appointed a new pharmacy manager who will start on September 4. "We are also actively recruiting for additional staff and expect things to return to normal shortly. "However, we will continue to monitor the situation." One local pensioner told the Free Press this week that the situation for people picking up prescriptions had become farcical. "You are supposed to give 72 hours' notice for a repeat prescription but I gave seven days and they still did not have all my medication ready for me to pick up," she said. "Last Saturday it took me two and a half hours to get my complete prescription and there were between 15 and 20 people queuing in the shop, outside and right round the building. "It was chaos and it's been like that for the last three months. We're just fed up with being given excuses by Lloyds because the situation never gets any better. "I've lived in this area for 40 years and I've been using the pharmacy on a regular basis for at least 35 years and I have never experienced problems on this scale before. "I know at least one man has contacted Lloyds' head office about this and they must be aware of what is happening. "They should be doing something about it." The pensioner, who asked not to be named, said she now felt she had little option but to take her prescription to another chemist. She has already contacted Somerset Coast PCT's patient advice liaison officer Jane O'Sullivan and is urging other people unhappy with the service to do the same. PCT spokesman Paul Courtney confirmed that a couple of complaints had been received about the Williton pharmacy, largely in relation to the length of time people were having to wait for prescriptions. Mr Courtney said that in the first instance the trust would advise people to contact Lloyds. "The pharmacy is an independent contractor and the trust does not have any sanctions it can use on issues such as waiting times. "However, it can draw Lloyds' attention to the problems, particularly if it receives a significant level of complaints." Ms O'Sullivan can be contacted at Somerset Coast PCT headquarters at Mallard Court, Express Park, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, TA6 4RN, tel 01278 432013.