Almost half of North Yorkshire community pharmacies have experienced violent and abusive behaviour in past five days

Pharmacists across North Yorkshire have experienced violent and abusive behaviour over the past five days.
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As the UK responds to the coronavirus pandemic, Community Pharmacies across North Yorkshire are working tirelessly to ensure that everyone gets the medicines they need, when they need them whilst experiencing exceptionally high demand for medication.

This unprecedented demand is due to patients ordering their medicines ahead of the due date, ordering medicines they haven’t had for some time ‘just in case’ in an attempt to stockpile medicines.

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Sadly, whilst working under such immense pressure to ensure patients get their medication, they have also been experiencing violent and abusive behaviour from a number of them.

Stock image. Getty Images.Stock image. Getty Images.
Stock image. Getty Images.

In a survey of the 152 Community Pharmacies in North Yorkshire, 43.5% eported that they have been subject to violent and abusive behaviour in the past five days.

Ian Dean, CEO of Community Pharmacy North Yorkshire, said: “We are requesting the following of patients:

• Please do not abuse Pharmacy staff, treat them with respect as they do you,

• Please do not stockpile medication

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• Please do not order repeat prescriptions ahead of the due date

"There are enough medicines in the supply chain, if everyone orders their usual quantities and duration.

"We ask you to do this, so we can do what your Community Pharmacy want to do which is keep their whole community safe."

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