London Drugs decreasing pharmacy hours at dozens of locations amid industry-wide staffing issues
More than half of the London Drugs locations across British Columbia will soon have decreased pharmacy hours amid industry-wide staffing issues.
The changes were flagged this week by an anonymous Reddit user, who claimed to be a London Drugs pharmacy employee and said many locations would have "shortened operational hours starting Monday."
"Please find out the adjusted hours the next time you're in the store this week or on the phone with one of us, as it has not been adjusted on Google Maps or even displayed on our app or website," the user wrote.
London Drugs confirmed that a number of locations have already decreased their pharmacy hours, and that others would be following suit next week.
"That is the case, and it's not new information – we've had to do this for several weeks," company president Clint Mahlman told CTV News Wednesday.
Mahlman estimated about 35 of the company's 53 B.C. locations will be impacted in total, though he said the number fluctuates as staffing allows. For the most part, pharmacies are closing at 7 p.m. instead of 10 p.m., though the hours vary by store.
Staff have been informing customers about the reduced hours personally, Mahlman added.
"We obviously don't want to surprise our customers," he said. "Most pharmacies have an excellent one-on-one relationship with their customer base, and so they've been busy advising them about revised hours."
London Drugs described the staffing issues as "multi-layered and complex," adding that there were challenges even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The crisis led many senior pharmacists to leave their practice over health concerns and burnout, Mahlman said, while slowed immigration reduced the number of foreign-trained pharmacists coming into the country. There have also been a number of issues affecting recent graduates, including delayed Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada examinations.
"These incredible shortages that are impacting the whole industry, it's putting enormous pressure on pharmacy staffing, and it's certainly not unique to London Drugs," Mahlman said.
In a recent survey conducted for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, 81 per cent of pharmacy professionals said staffing issues are having a "moderate" or "severe" negative impact on their mental health and well-being.
A full 92 per cent said they were at risk of burnout, and 72 per cent reported they had considered leaving their job since the start of the pandemic.
“Canada’s pharmacy teams have proudly taken on a huge role in our pandemic response, they’ve remained a steadfast resource for their communities and have become a leading provider of COVID-19 vaccinations and guidance,” Dr. Danielle Paes of the CPA said in a statement last month.
"But the unrelenting demands, coupled with added administrative burdens and staffing challenges have pushed us to a tipping point."
Mahlman said London Drugs has been working to address staffing shortages, and that hours would be extended at locations as soon as possible. Some pharmacies could be returning to normal hours "within a week or two," he added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.