COVID-19: how to use pharmacies during the coronavirus pandemic

Pharmacists have long been the unsung heroes of healthcare. When patients can't get a GP appointment, many take their minor ailments and health worries to their pharmacist. You can even book appointments (including in some areas video consultations) with your pharmacist through services like Patient Access.

How can pharmacists help during a pandemic?

Pharmacies are crucial to helping communities stay healthy. But in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all need to adapt to how pharmacies are having to work to protect themselves and us during the outbreak.

"Pharmacies are open for patients at the moment but hours may be reduced because of some of the teams becoming sick themselves," explains Raj Matharu, Chair of Pharmacy London. "This does place considerable strain on the team, but we're small units, like a family, and help each other out."

Pharmacies are having to take special measures to protect staff and patients during the coronavirus outbreak. These might include:

Community pharmacists are the only frontline community healthcare professionals providing face-to-face appointments with patients. As patients, it's vital that we keep our distance from pharmacy staff wherever possible, wear face coverings unless exempt, use hand sanitiser and follow their instructions to keep everyone safe.

Do your bit to protect pharmacies

It's a worrying and frustrating time for everyone at the moment. But if we all play our part, we can make sure that pharmacies are able to carry on providing a safe and effective service and that people can get the medications they need.

What is it like to work in pharmacy during a pandemic?

"It is exhausting, frightening and bewildering," says Matharu. "There is so much to do that at times it becomes emotionally draining. I have had many pharmacists call me up in tears just needing an outlet to unload their real worries and concerns.

"We have to be there for our patients and communities - we can't let them down. Pharmacy teams have a real connection with their communities. A number of patients have personally thanked me for opening and helping them. I have heard of many similar stories across London."

Concerningly, not everyone has been treating pharmacy staff with the respect they deserve. "There are increasing instances where people get aggressive and abusive. We need that to stop, it doesn't help anybody."

Yet despite the enormous pressure on them, those working in pharmacy have stepped up to help their communities over the last year. As patients, we can make their jobs easier and safer by following the lockdown restrictions and adhering to the measures pharmacies have put in place to protect all of us.