Pharmacy Daily | Owners committed to staff safety

AMID allegations that pharmacies are failing to adequately protect employees, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia maintains its members believe staff welfare is paramount during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding to the findings of a Professional Pharmacists Australia (PPA) survey, which found 20% of employee pharmacists believes owners were not implementing suitable safety measures, a Guild spokesperson told Pharmacy Daily that the organisation recognised the pressures and stress the crisis has put on pharmacy staff, but stressed employee safety was a high priority for its members.

"It has been an extremely challenging environment as pharmacies have stayed open and served patients amid panic buying, medicine shortages and health risks for patients and staff," the spokesperson said.

"It is not surprising that this sample survey has uncovered many of those concerns which pharmacy staff are feeling.

"As pharmacy owners, Guild members are well aware of these stresses, and also very mindful of our commitment to ensure a safe working environment for our staff.

"The Guild has done its best to address these concerns by providing pharmacy owners with up-to-date information and other resources to try to adapt to the challenges thrown at pharmacies by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our staff are vital and their welfare is paramount."

However, the PPA survey reported one-in-three respondents believed their health and safety had been jeopardised by pharmacy owners' responses to potential exposure to patients with COVID-19.

The survey also reported more than a third of respondents were considering leaving the profession, claiming to be overloaded by the increased workload being faced as a result of the crisis.

Close to half of respondents said they did not have enough staff to meet professional requirements, while one-in-five reported that they were working overtime without pay.