Well pharmacy has apologised after a text message was sent to customers in Mauchline on Wednesday warning of a 'potential COVID-19 disruption'.
Locals whose details are registered with Well pharmacy on Loudoun Street in Mauchline received the text message on Wednesday, September 30.
But many quickly grew concerned over the wording of the message and what it implied regarding the supply of medicine in the coming months.
READ MORE: New Cumnock PS teacher vows to wax legs for charity
The text message read: "Be prepared for potential COVID-19 disruption: Order your prescription from your GP and collect any outstanding medicines from your local Well as soon as possible."
Well pharmacy has since apologised for the way the text message was phrased, and insists there is no cause for panic.
Well pharmacy also has a store in Sandgate in Ayr.
Really poor from @wellpharmacy. Causing panic is not what we need as a sector. https://t.co/lHhmnScO2I
— Pharmacist Thorrun (@pharmthorrun) September 30, 2020
In a statement, Well said: "On Wednesday, September 30, Well Pharmacy sent a text to customers, who had previously provided their details for service messages, advising them to be prepared for potential COVID-19 disruption and order their prescriptions from their GP and to collect from their local pharmacy.
"Well received feedback from some patients who are worried about continuity of supplies under COVID. However, a spokesperson for the company said there is no need for patients to order additional medication from their GP, or order in advance of their normal repeat cycle, our intent was simply to remind patients to pick up their medication awaiting collection:
"We recognise the text message may have inadvertently - and unintentionally - caused concern for some patients and we would like to reassure all our customers that there is no need to order additional medication that goes in advance of their normal repeat cycle.
"We apologise for any misunderstanding and have sent a further text message on Thursday, October 1 to our customers to clarify our intention.
"We simply wanted to remind patients to collect existing medication and given the number of local restrictions due to increasing rates of COVID-19, felt it timely to suggest they may need to consider when their prescription is next due.
"If any member of the public has any concerns, please phone your local Well Pharmacy who will be pleased to help”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here