‘CHAOS’ is escalating at a Chard pharmacy as tirades against staff have continued and a man has even been arrested for being abusive while in possession of alcohol.

A string of complaints have been launched against management and users as the situation at Lloyds Pharmacy continues.

After Lloyds higher management was criticised in a News report on July 18, other users of the pharmacy have taken to social media to highlight the volatile situation.

In addition, police have confirmed a 40-year-old man was arrested and issued with a police caution for a public order offence, after he became abusive in Holyrood Street when alcohol was confiscated.

Customer Genna Miller said: “Today in the pharmacy in Chard I watched sheer disrespect, chaos and stress unfold right in front of my eyes.

“People have addictions and they need help, that is fine, I do get it.

“However, what is not fine is the fact that they are in the Pharmacy drinking, being stood in the door smoking with people trying to squeeze by, and taking seats in the waiting area off elderly people who can hardly stand.

“It’s utterly unacceptable.”

Another resident said they were “appalled” to have also witnessed abuse of staff by a person who required needles.

Genna added: “The staff were rushing to ensure everyone was getting sorted.

“You could see they were under so much pressure as eight people needed to be seen by the pharmacist, yet there was a queue out of the door of 10 or more people trying to collect prescriptions, and some probably lifesaving drugs.

“I myself waited nearly 40 minutes.

“All I heard from the lady serving was ‘I’m so so sorry for the wait, it’s chaos’.

“It was clear that they were stressed and under pressure, but yet everyone is so quick to blame them for what exactly? Doing their jobs?

“It was distressing to see the team behind the counter sweating profusely, panicking about how many people they were left to see and serve.”

Another person who backed Genna’s comments used to work in the industry.

They said: “I left the world of pharmacy just over a year ago for exactly these reasons. I literally couldn’t take any more. We all worked our socks off, got absolutely nowhere and nothing but abuse and disrespect.”

Councillor Garry Shortland, Mayor of Chard, said issues may have been caused by a small number of people street drinking at the back of Sainsbury’s, an area which has since been subject to a Designated Public Protection Order (DPPO).

He said: “The more101 calls police get, the more this becomes identified as a hotspot and then they are able to put more resources towards it.”

A police spokesman confirmed officers had been called to the pharmacy during recent month for theft and anti-social behaviour incidents.

Rural beat manager PC Al Hollick said: “We believe a small minority of people are responsible. We are working with businesses and licensed premises in the town.

“We have received an increased number of reports relating to street drinking and anti-social behaviour. These incidents are being investigated and highlighted to the area’s anti-social behaviour co-ordinators for additional assistance.

“Following our positive action, we hope that the Chard community feel reassured that we do take anti-social behaviour seriously and will take appropriate action to deal with it.”

A spokesman for Lloyds’ parent company, Celesio, said: “Our area management are on site regularly to support the team. All incidents relating to customer behaviour and/or potential or perceived security issues should be reported by the pharmacy team and are dealt with as a matter of priority.

“We want to make sure that our patients and customers feel safe at all times.”

Witnesses of abuse in the store are asked to contact Lloyds’ customer services.