CONCERNS are being raised over UK pharmacy staffing levels, with close to three-quarters of British pharmacies reporting they only staffed appropriately half the time.
The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) 2018 patient safety survey found just 3% of respondents reported always having sufficient staffing levels to avoid adverse effects on patient safety.
The survey found pharmacists working for large multiples including supermarket chains, Sainsburys, ASDA and Tesco, and Lloydspharmacy and Boots, were more likely to report being understaffed more than half the time.
However, respondents employed by supermarket group, Morrisons, were the most likely to report that their store was always staffed appropriately (11.1%).
Across the UK, pharmacies in Scotland were the most likely to be understaffed half the time or more (75%), while pharmacists working in Welsh stores reported the highest rate of always being staffed appropriately (4.4% of the time).
Adding to patient safety concerns, 69.1% of pharmacists said they were unable to take statutory breaks and rest periods as required to meet their professional obligations more than half the time, with 100% of pharmacists employed by Sainsburys claiming the most likely to report not being able to take their breaks.
Tesco pharmacists reported the highest rate of being able to take their breaks as required, with one-in-five saying they always took breaks.
The survey also found that patients visiting independent pharmacies had greater access to a pharmacist compared to those going to a multiple, with 56.7% of independent stores reporting a pharmacist was always available to patients, while pharmacists working for multiples said that was the case in 44% of stores.
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