Patients using a "dysfunctional" pharmacy have been left grumbling as they claim they are forced to wait in hour-long queues.

'Well' Pharmacy in Marston on the edge of Oxford has reportedly had people turned away as long queues of people wait to pick up medicine.

The health hub, which was previously knows as Frosts Pharmacy before transferring management to the Well Pharmacy chain, had a line of customers outside on Monday morning.

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Niels Detert, a psychologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital and long-time Marston resident, said: "It looks as though there is some kind of problem in the management of that particular shop.

Oxford Mail: Niels Detert.Niels Detert. (Image: Niels Detert)

"I'm picturing they are understaffed."

Mr Detert said he had arrived at opening on Monday morning at 8.30am to collect a prescription but gave up when it got to 9.10am and he was still outside.

"A member of staff from the co-op next door came out to offer a chair to an old lady," he added.

"She was quite old.

"I had to leave eventually as I had a patient I needed to see to at 9.30am."

Mr Detert is concerned the pharmacy might close.

He continued: "It is an important local resource for people in the area and quite a long way to the next nearest pharmacy.

"Some people have started using the Barton pharmacy and others are using an online one."

Marston ward councillor Mary Clarkson said residents had been complaining about the pharmacy for a while in phone calls, emails and on doorsteps.

Oxford Mail: Mary Clarkson.Mary Clarkson.

"It really does need to be sorted fast," she said.

"There is a vicious circle of people being angry and anxious going into the pharmacy.

"Drug addicts going to get a prescription are getting quite anxious and aggressive standing next to pensioners who feel quite threatened."

Ms Clarkson referenced a broader "shortage of qualified pharmacists nationally" but said she had the impression the Marston pharmacy was very poorly managed.

Well Pharmacy states on its website it has been "helping people look after their health for over 70 years".

A manager at the Costcutter shop next door, who did not wish to be named, said: "It’s very dysfunctional and disorganised there are no staff in there.

Oxford Mail: Old Marston Road.Old Marston Road. (Image: Google Maps.)

"They are all agency staff.

"Half of them don't know where the medicine is."

Ms Clarkson says the director of public health, chair of the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds are among those who are now looking into the issue.

The Costcutter manager said: "If inspectors walked in they would be shut down.

"The average customer waits over an hour and people have to come back another day."

A Well Pharmacy spokeswoman said: "We apologise for any issues our patients are facing.

"We are working hard to ensure the Marston community can access full pharmacy services.

"We would encourage patients signed up to our text message alerts to wait for their notification before collecting their medication, unless they are likely to be without medication.

"All patients are invited to sign up for our free text message alerts so we can let them know when their prescriptions are ready to collect to save them time.”

We have approached the General Pharmaceutical Council for comment.