A PLEA has gone out for patients to be patient with pharmacists when trying to get prescriptions.

People have been getting frustrated due to a lack of pharmacists — which has seen many chemists temporarily close their doors due to not being able to operate without a pharmacist.

It's not just reduced hours either. Jhoots in Ventnor suddenly closed last Wednesday "until further notice" and the town's Boots has not been operating full opening hours for several months now.

It has seen vast amounts of people switch to Shanklin for their prescriptions, but this has put pressure on services in the town. Gary Warner, owner of Regent Pharmacy, which has branches in Shanklin and East Cowes, pleaded with 'patients to be patient'.

Isle of Wight County Press: Jhoots Pharmacy in Ventnor has closed until further notice.Jhoots Pharmacy in Ventnor has closed until further notice. (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "The current shortage of pharmacists is the result of an NHS policy, which is being felt particularly acutely on the Island.

"This means that some pharmacies are having to close, not because they want to but because there are no pharmacists available to work here.

"The remaining pharmacies are having to work beyond their normal capacity to meet the needs of all patients — that means everyone is working under even more pressure, at a time when everyone believes that pharmacy is already at breaking point.

"Please be a patient patient — nobody is doing this deliberately and everyone is doing their best and beyond to help you."

Isle of Wight County Press: The sign on the door at Jhoots in Ventnor.The sign on the door at Jhoots in Ventnor. (Image: Newsquest)

The County Press has contacted Jhoots for comment and to find out more about the closure.

Read more: Frustrated patients abuse pharmacy staff in Ventnor