Pharmacy services have been thrown into chaos across Whitstable as the closure of two chemists forces thousands of patients to collect prescriptions from alternative sites.

Waits of up to two hours to pick up medication have been reported amid major supply issues affecting thousands of people in the town.

The issue is having a knock-on effect on staff at GP surgeries, with prescriptions having to be redirected to pharmacists who are “busier than ever".

It comes as Cheadles Chemist in Seasalter and Estuary View Pharmacy in Whitstable have been shut due to "unforeseen circumstances”, while Cheadles in the town’s high street says it is not ordering any new stock.

All three are run by the same company, E-Nova Healthcare Limited.

In a message to patients last week, Whitstable Medical Practices (WMP), which runs Estuary View, Chestfield Medical Centre and Whitstable Health Centre, said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Estuary View and Seasalter Pharmacies are now closed until further notice.”

Surgery bosses have been encouraging patients to switch to one of the five chemists in the Whitstable area that remain open: Boots in the High Street, Tyrell & Jones in Tower Parade, Tesco Pharmacy in Milstrood Road, Tankerton Pharmacy on Tankerton Road, and Swalecliffe Pharmacy in St John's Road.

Meanwhile, the Cheadles branch in Whitstable high street remains open but is operating at a limited capacity due to supply issues.

Updating patients on the situation, WMP bosses added: “In view of the closures and stock issues that remain at the pharmacies please appreciate that other local pharmacies are busier than ever.

“It will take some time for other pharmacies to adjust to the increased demand so waits will be longer for prescriptions but please be assured that they have plenty of stock to ensure all patients receive their prescription.”

Dr John Ribchester, a GP at the Estuary View surgery, says pointing patients in the direction of open pharmacies is taking a toll on medical staff’s already busy schedules.

“Everything seems to be rather up in the air at the moment,” said Dr Ribchester.

“The E-Nova chain of community pharmacies is experiencing supply difficulty and consequently they haven’t been able to fill many people's prescriptions.

“We have had to try and help people to signpost them to the five remaining chemists in the Whitstable area.

“This is taking up a considerable amount of our time, but the most important thing is that patients get the drugs they need.”

KentOnline has made attempts to contact E-Nova Healthcare Limited.