To think Pharmacies shouldn't shut for lunch anymore

Pretty easy to work out - the drugs are checked by the pharmacist then loaded in the van.
They've been checked on the way out of the pharmacy (which is what matters) so job jobbed.

That’s bullshit too let’s face it. Bankers earn plently.

Oh I do! I was going to say I bet it wasn't for no reason, i bet people were getting arsy that the pharmacist wasn't there so they decided it was easier to close. Then I noticed someone had already said that so I cleared it but forgot to clear quote.

Providing it is clearly advertised and stuck to (website, large print on the door), I can see why it is done.

Now give me a reason why banks shut earlier than they do that is valid.

Indeed tracked and signed for covered the need for in person for high prescription as would be expected for maybe people who couldn’t leave the home originally. But basically now we don’t need actually open pharmacies unless we need it now if we can wait 24/48 hours we can have it delivered to our homes at no extra cost. My father has some very very high doses of pain meds delivered meant to be signed but not questions asked via his letter box. Good or bad it happens and it’s easier for those day at work who only have lunch hour or after hours when most pharmacies are closed.

Most pharmacies are open on Saturdays too aren't they?

Edit well I don't know how the fuck that happened. I did not mean to quote you.

So your work lunch break aligns every day with your local pharmacists lunchbreak?

I went to the pharmacy the other day whilst the pharmacist was on her lunch. There were about 6 people with clearly nothing better to do than moan and get arsey with the staff on the counter about the fact the pharmacist wasn’t there.
So it’s probably to avoid that, so the pharmacist can have their lunch in peace without folk demanding their pile cream be dispensed immediately and the staff working on the counter don’t have to tolerate the rude impatient people.

Not always that easy if they're only open until 5.30pm and you work until that time yourself.

The lunch break may be the only time you have to pick it up.

Presumably they had enough of getting an earful off people who went in during the pharmacists lunchbreak, so the better option all round is to close. Staff don't deserve to be shouted at.

Yes, we get that.

But why can't there be 2 pharmacists?

Surely most busy places would need 2 anyway.

Or is it a case of cost-cutting and making the patients wait?!

Well now a local boots in an incredibly busy popular area closes at lunchtime.

It never used to. They just didn’t dispense prescriptions then. And it was always really really busy ( massive student area)

Then for no reason, it started closing at lunch time. People are constantly walking up to it and trying to open the doors. There were 23 people waiting to get in last week

And it still continues to shut. Why?

Just go in the hours when it’s open. Honestly, why are people so annoyed/frustrated over absolute non events these days!?

What's the logic in needing a qualified pharmacist to hand over the drugs across the counter, but then have them delivered in vans by unqualified delivery drivers?? I've never worked that one out.

Our village pharmacy had a problem with struggling to get a locum pharmacist for nearly a week, last year. My drugs had been made up and signed off, but the counter staff couldn't hand them over without a pharmacist being present. I went home and then rang them up and asked them to deliver it, and it turned up the next day, happily handed over by a van driver.

Doesn't make any sense!

Don't fancy spending my lunchbreak trying to buy some emollient ointment, a packet of superthick sanitary towels and some Sudafed whilst a rattling junkie or somebody like my mother threatens to smash the place up if they don't get their prescription RIGHT NOW, to be honest.

The 2 services you’ve specifically listed are:

handing out a prescription
seeing clinical work that has been offloaded by GPs

so both things that the pharmacist is needed for.
ao You think it’s old shined and unjustified for a person working all day in charge of the pharmacy to have any type of lunch break?
most pharmacies don’t make enough money to pay more than one pharmacist
YABVVU!

and for the person talking about online pharmacies even the most super efficient ones only offer next day delivery (at a cost) so how is that quicker?!

'Controlled' drugs I don't think can be posted? Lots of people have those {Painkillers &c} Many drugs could be too risky to be posted out because of risk of diversion.
I don't think in person pharmacies will cease to exist for this reason.

Edit..I googled, and it seems they can be sent out via tracked and signed for delivery.

Easier to shut than explain for the millionth time that they can’t hand out prescriptions because the pharmacist isn’t there.
As others have said, there is a shortage of pharmacists.

I mens it just gives people another reason to move to online only shutting more pharmacies doesn’t it.

I get mine all delivered online. Lloyd’s have shut all their in person pharmacies.

I can go online pay £9 and have two months of the pill delivered in 48hours. I can online pay £170 and have a month of those fat drugs delivered all legit as it’s a registered online pharmacy. I can get off name thrush meds delivered cheaper than £16 online all by a legit place.

In person pharmacies will die out.

I’ve never heard of a pharmacy closing for lunch. They will say if the pharmacist is at lunch, though, and to come back or wait. But the pharmacy is always open.

The pharmacist has to be present to give out a lot of the meds, so when they are on break stuff does get delayed.

The whole shop shouldn't really be shut but I guess if you can't get your prescription it would just cause annoyance to be turned away when s/he's not there/ available.

One I know never seems to take a break, one always takes a full hour but at around 4pm. The latter is much less busy and do less CD scripts I think.
Ideally if they had 2 at each shop then it could be fully covered but they only legally need one so most don't have more.

They should really only take shorter breaks, maybe, but they do need some.

Either you want something that requires the pharmacist to be present (if you’re just dropping off a paper prescription and can’t get there conveniently then have it sent electronically), or if you really just want nappies or calpol or plasters then buy them at a regular shop. Or have your lunch break at some other point. Or go to a big supermarket pharmacy. Or get stuff delivered.

This is such a non problem for the vast majority of people- I will accept that there are people living very remotely who don’t have options, but most people can manage with a pharmacy that closes between 12:30-13:30. My GP surgery certainly closes for lunch daily!

Ah ok. Well, I think the general public often being utter arseholes is an explanation for a lot of things!

But "in front of the counter" stuff is readily available at every supermarket and most larger corner shops. Why do you need a pharmacy at that exact time for something that doesn't need a Pharmacist?