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
Flights divert around western Iran as one report says explosions heard near Isfahan
Commercial flights began diverting their routes early Friday morning over western Iran without explanation as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic claimed there had been 'explosions' heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged 'loud noise.'
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.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'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.