A PHARMACY which replaced a failing practice in Minehead is to close next week, just six months after it opened.

Allied Pharmacies converted a shop in Friday Street to take over the former Jhoots business, which had been sited in Irnham Road next to Minehead Medical Centre but had not fully traded for months.

The new Allied business was heralded as a boon for Minehead patients when it started serving customers only in January.

But, now, it will shut on Wednesday, July 1, because it has not seen enough business pass through its doors.

The company told NHS Somerset it had been dispensing prescriptions to only about 25 to 30 patients per month.

NHS Somerset place director David McClay, who commissions community pharmacy services, said Allied had notified NHS Somerset of its intention to stop providing pharmaceutical services in the town and had confirmed the branch would close on July 1.

Mr McClay said: “While we know any closure like this can cause local concern, NHS activity at the Allied branch in Minehead was very limited.

“There are three other pharmacies in Minehead who continue to provide a wide range of services to local people.

“We would encourage anybody who used Allied in Minehead for their prescriptions to make alternative arrangements by choosing another local pharmacy from July 1.”

Mr McClay said the other pharmacies in Minehead were Boots, in The Parade, in-store in the town’s Tesco supermarket, off Seaward Way, and Alcombe Pharmacy, in Alcombe.

He said even though only a small number of people used the Allied branch, the main message to patients who used it for prescriptions was to make arrangements for their prescriptions to be sent to a different pharmacy.

Patients could change their nominated pharmacy using the NHS App, or they could ask their new pharmacy to update it, in person or by telephone.