The multiple uncovered the issue at the start of December, when it said that it had identified “structural weaknesses” in three out of six cranes it operates at the centre.

Well told C+D it took the decision to decommission the cranes on a temporary basis but stressed that this would not mean a 50% reduction in service at the centre, which C+D understands acts as a repository for stock before it is sent out to individual branches.

Read more: Well initiates ‘business continuity plans’ as crane issues affect capacity

Business continuity plans had to be put in place at the centre, which usually moves millions of units every week, to minimise disruption to staff and patients.

At the time, Well said that it feared the repairs would take until the New Year.

But a Well spokesperson told C+D last month (January 18) that “repairs to the three cranes were successfully completed at the end of December” and the centre is “now back up to normal operating capacity”.

"Patients not disrupted”

They added that “patients were not disrupted by the repairs” thanks to the multiple’s “robust business continuity plans [and] effective communication”.

“We’d like to thank colleagues for all their efforts as we seek to improve the lives of our patients and customers in the communities we serve,” they said.

In November, Well told C+D that it was planning to move “some” support office functions to a sister company outside the UK amid “economically testing times”.

A small number of people in the company’s two support centres – including Stoke-on-Trent – would be affected by the changes, but none were pharmacists, it said.

Steep rises to inflation and challenges caused by the flat funding deal for pharmacy in England means it has to “be even more cost-efficient to ensure sustainability”, Well said at the time.

It comes after the multiple has stepped in to offer roles to pharmacy staff affected by the news that Lloydspharmacy is to withdraw from its Sainsbury’s in-store operations.