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
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.