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A pharmacist has said he puts in £2,000 to £3,000 a month of his own money to help keep his pharmacy going as funding pressures and rising costs jeopardise its existence. 

Mihai Tudor Ionescu, the superintendent pharmacist and manager at Avonmouth Pharmacy in Bristol, told Independent Community Pharmacist the situation became so desperate that he, the owner and director were forced to dip into their pockets to try and stave off the threat of closure.

Ionescu also revealed they decided to close the pharmacy on Saturdays and will reduce their opening hours from 8.30am to 9am. He insisted it “is affecting everybody, from our patients to our staff who will earn less”.

“Don't get me wrong, the money is given back to me as soon as the NHS cheque arrives but the owner brings in a lot more, as you can imagine,” Ionescu said, insisting the pharmacy has also started to charge for dosette boxes.

He said this year was the first time in 14 years they were unable to give their staff a pay rise. “We don't have anybody on minimum salary,” he said. “We had a meeting with our accountant recently. In past years, meetings would end with the boss writing a nice cheque for me as a bonus.

“This year, he asked me as usual how much I thought I deserved. Looking at the figures, I couldn't even open my mouth. I was embarrassed to ask for something, not because I didn't do my job, but because he would have had to borrow money for my bonus.

“The only profit we made last year came from a few services thrown to us to shut our mouth by the NHS. We have also done some private services.”

Abusive patient reported me to GPhC after I told them to leave the pharmacy

Ionescu said medicines shortages and “over-the-drug-tariff prices” have put him in “many awkward and embarrassing situations” with patients.

On one occasion, a patient reported him to the General Pharmaceutical Council after he told them to leave the pharmacy because of their “rude and abusive” behaviour. The pharmacy had been unable to source the patient’s medicine.

Ionescu said he was subjected to a GPhC investigation which took three months to complete and caused him “a lot of hassle and stress”. The investigation found in his favour.

“In February 2023, I was under investigation with the GPhC due to the antibiotics shortage on the market,” he said. 

“A patient presented a prescription for penicillin suspension for his daughter and we couldn't provide the medicine. He became rude and abusive. I invited him out of the shop and as a response, he reported me to the GPhC.”

He insisted wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers “are making the rules for everybody in this sector – rules that are directing all the money strictly to them”.

“How can the NHS accept so many ridiculous price increases from their side but when it’s time to revise the drug tariff, they don't do anything at all?” he said. 

“GPhC inspectors are keen on standards but how can we keep the standards if we are not able to pay our staff, suppliers and all other expenses? You can imagine how frustrating it is when, after so many years of hard work, you see your pockets are almost empty.” 

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