Community pharmacists' experiences of working during lockdown

Transmission of the novel coronavirus strain, SARS-CoV-2, caused many health services to reach crisis points worldwide. As infection rates rose, many countries implemented 'lockdown' periods where only essential services could remain open; this included community pharmacies in the UK. This study retrospectively explores the experiences of community pharmacists during the first lockdown period of the pandemic in the UK, helping us to learn for the future if another pandemic were to arise.

The objectives of this study were to explore the main professional and personal worries and concerns that pharmacists experienced during the first UK lockdown. Key practical issues specific to COVID-19 were investigated: staffing levels, precautionary measures undertaken, workload issues, medicines shortages, support, and guidance. In addition, the perceived effectiveness of support available to community pharmacists was examined.

Community pharmacists in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire regions of the UK were invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview. Participants were recruited until no new themes emerged. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was undertaken using the Framework Approach.

In total, 29 community pharmacists were interviewed across Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire, with interviews lasting on average for 20 min. Fifteen interviewees were from independent pharmacies and 14 from large-chain pharmacies. Five themes emerged from the data: difficulty maintaining staffing levels; precautionary measures undertaken for staff and patients; increase in dispensing volume; dealing with medicines shortages; and perceptions of support varied, with guidance reported to be initially slow and conflicting.

Overall, this study highlights the crucial role that community pharmacists in the UK played in ensuring patients still received their medication and health advice, despite the challenging circumstances in which they found themselves. Community pharmacies need appropriate support, recognition, and funding to enable them to remain sustainable and continue to provide a critical service in the face of possible future pandemics.