To wonder why they shut so early

[Rosebel]

Local chemist attached to the doctor is open until 6:30. Went up at 4 to pick up my daughter's inhaler and prescription aspirin for me. Massive queue and only 2 at a time allowed in (fair enough).
Branch manager comes out at 4:15 and says they are only serving next 3 people, even though most people have prescriptions waiting. She says come back tomorrow.
Why on earth would they shut 2 hours early a a time like this? From my point of view it's not too bad I can wait. Bloke next me says his son has been released from prison and needs medication for his mental health. They still refused.
It surely doesn't take 2 hours to serve 3 people.

I bet @Nicketynac's got it.

Pharmacies are essential, but/and if the staff get too tired or overworked to do their jobs properly, people could die.

Short staffed and very busy I'd imagine!!

Our small town boots store has just reduced their hours from 8-6 to 10-4.30 with an hour lunch. Only 1 person allowed in at a time.

Probably get quicker service to be honest, had fuck all staff in the last few months.

I don't think a lack of staff would mean they shut that early. I'm sure if the supermarket I work at shut 2hours early people would be up in arms

My local supermarket has been doing exactly that and I haven't seen a single complaint.

I work in a pharmacy next door to a surgery and have been working 12 hour shifts every day this week and we are still drowning in prescriptions as we didnt get any stock delivered for two days during the week.
I will be working tomorrow and probably sunday aswell.
We have had queues going out the door and backing up into the car park of people asking for prescriptions that they have requested from their doctor half an hour earlier and are surprised when it’s not ready so perhaps your pharmacy is one of the lucky ones that are allowed to reduce their opening hours to catch up so that those patients whose repeat medications are due actually get them on time.

Supermarket can open without the manager / assistant manager etc. Pharmacy can't open without a pharmacist. And their is usually only one.

I work as a dispenser in a pharmacy.
We are absolutely snowed under and really really feeling the pressure !
Drug shortages, massively increased prescription requests,lack of hand sanitizers and paracetamol ,closures of doctors surgeries for face to face dealing meaning everything is down to us and abuse on an hourly basis is starting to get us down to be honest and I'm going in tomorrow for my 6 th consecutive day this week to help the pharmacist cope .
It's very very hard and perhaps on top of dealing with all that they had an emergency themselves or were just too shattered to continue to dispense safely.

Totally unacceptable on the part of the pharmacy imo. At times like these, we all need to be pulling together and helping each other out. Essential outlets like pharmacies need to be providing a good service- I'd make a formal complaint.

If the staff need to sanitise everything, they can bloody well do it after they have closed to customers at the published time.

Someone went in who was infected?

And because the phone lines to the doctors are so busy, its now more difficult to contact the doctors when we need prescriptions for alternate medicines for patients due to their regular medications being out of stock. So its taking longer to sort these things out.

They are being as overwhelmed as the supermarkets - but they have to give a personal service and check the guidance, or refer to pharmacist for most purchases. Equally may be understaffed and very stressed/worried that they are likely to be exposed to ill people and carriers of covid. Very important to try and keep the pharmacy as sterile as possible - so yes they have a lot on. If they don't protect themselves and their shop they will have to shut down completely which is worse than reduced hours.

@Stormyclouds, totally agree. I think they should have their wages docked or alternatively be flogged.

or we could all just close completely due to stress

The common factor on this thread from people in “retail” is too many customers are being abusive.
We need more smiles, hello and thank you’s and the world will be a better place.

For goodness sake, I went to our chemist early one morning and the queue was across the car park. If that queue exists all day, dont you think theyd be a bit frazzled and need time out to have a break and then restock shelves.

My son went to a pharmacy today to pick up vital prescription medication and dressings for an elderly ex teacher of his; it was closed with a sign to come back in three quarters of an hour. He sat in the car and went in when they opened but they couldn't give him the goods because they said they were unpacking the delivery so come back in an hour - which he did and got it.

I think pharmacy staff are pretty stretched at the moment, that's probably why yours closed early. Not much fun for those with urgent needs though.

I need daily medication and have been turned away because I've been told they've too many prescriptions to do. I can do nothing about being on daily medications so have no choice but to go without which puts me at risk.

I understand why they are doing it, but they need a set time for those of us who require medication every day. Not just making it pot luck.

In no way am I ungrateful for their help, the impact on my mental health is worsening because of not getting my meds, either due to closure or being frightened by everyone in masks (I've PTSD before anyone decides to accuse me of being silly/pathetic).

I should add it's not just not getting my medication but also all mental health care has ceased here altogether now; I've no one to help me as im on my own.

I went to pick up a prescription today. No one is allowed in store so the two members of staff and one pharmacist were seeing people at the door so not only did they have the sheer volume of a people to deal with they also had to keep going backwards and forwards from the door to the dispensary, various shelves to get the items requested then to the till to ring it up then back to the door to take the contactless payment. I think they have more than earned the one hour closing for lunch and closing a bit earlier.

@TabbyMumz

To be quite frank, they can restock the shelves once the shop has closed. If that means they are there overnight, so be it.

Many NHS staff will rightly be working 14 hour days for the next few weeks.

I went into our local pharmacy a few days ago and there were so many people coughing in there including the staff (no protective wear at that point). At least a day later they had gloves, then masks the day after. I ran straight back out and felt so sorry for them. They became totally overwhelmed when the doctor’s surgery closed with people with symptoms going in. I really hope the system changes quickly to protect our pharmacies too. Queuing and breaks are important but also more staffing and deliveries are urgently required if most of the population is being told to sit this out at home. I am sure the government are aware of the issues.

CV topic?

Probably because they needed customer free time to deal with the amount of work. I guess they could have told people that instead of just closing though!

If the pharmacist isn’t there, how can they stay open? It’s not the same as a supermarket worker. A pharmacist is a medicines expert, legally responsible for what they dispense.

@Becca19962014 I don't think you're silly or pathetic. I have PTSD too and finding this a triggering situation.

I actually think you're incredibly brave for still persevering with trying to get your meds in such frightening circumstances. Is there any way for you to flag up to your doctor that you can't get your meds because you've been turned away?