Pharmacies innovating and putting safety first

Life Pharmacy Barrington have completely changed the way they do business to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Co-owner Kerryn Stokes says all customers are asked health questions before being admitted and they are limiting the number of people allowed in the store at any one time to just three.

Other measures include having two separate points for entry and exit to allow for social distancing, having clear perspex screens at the main counter and no self-selection of products – to limit the amount of contact people have with surfaces.

The pharmacy has also vaccinated more than 1500 of the community’s most vulnerable against Influenza, and undertaken vaccinations at facilities like local retirement villages, so patients don't need to come out during lock-down.

As the pharmacy works hard to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to protect its clients and community, the lock-down is hitting the business hard, with a reduction in retail sales helping contribute to a drop in turnover of 25% to 30%.

“People should only be shopping for what they need. Their safety comes first, but the lack in foot traffic has seen retail sales fall through the floor,” says Stokes.

“Pharmacies aren’t ‘raking it in’ that’s for sure.”

The business signed up to the Government’s wage subsidies and reduced its store opening hours, to cater for the drop in foot traffic.

“Our dispensary is dealing with more complex situations, more deliveries, more phone calls, more changes to what's ‘normal’, so we are still working longer hours, despite the pharmacy physical doors being closed,” says Stokes.

Stokes says that 90% of prescriptions are now faxed, emailed or digitally downloaded, and paper prescriptions are being scanned at the front door and sent direct to pharmacists to dispense. And to reduce instore waiting times, patients awaiting their prescriptions are given the option to be text when it’s ready to collect.

Canterbury Community Pharmacy Group General manager Aarti Patel says the approach of Life Pharmacy Barrington is typical of how pharmacies are stepping up to address the new challenges COVID-19 has presented.

“Pharmacists support large numbers of people every day, and the COVID crisis has meant we’ve had to innovate and adapt in order to provide quality advice and medicines to our communities.

“Pharmacy has always been nimble and innovative, but the rapid response to COVID has been incredible, and has ensured all our people are staying safe and getting what they need, when they need it.”

Watch the video