Key Summary
- Fragility of pharmacy finances, high workloads, stress, and rising reports of patient abuse, are taking a toll on the morale of pharmacy owners and teams.
- The CPE said that through this collaboration, it wants to make pharmacy owners and teams aware of the Pharmacist Support’s services and where to turn for help.
- Pharmacist Support offers several support services for pharmacists, pharmacy students, trainees and former pharmacists.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) will be working with Pharmacist Support, a charity that helps pharmacists, pharmacy students, trainees and former pharmacists, to help improve the well-being of pharmacists and their teams.
The CPE noted that continuing fragility of pharmacy finances, alongside high workloads, stress, ongoing uncertainty and rising reports of patient abuse across England, are taking a toll on the well-being and morale of pharmacy owners and teams.
Along with Pharmacist Support, CPE plans to organise wellbeing workshops and share informative resources to help pharmacy owners and their teams manage stress, protect mental health, and stay resilient through another demanding year.
Pharmacist Support will be organising a stress management webinar on 26 February, which will explore wellbeing and look at how to build resilience.
It would discuss techniques for dealing with feelings of pressure, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and encourage participants to identify and build on strengths, explain the advantages of positive thinking, and provide tips to enhance resilience and wellbeing.
The CPE said that through its collaboration with Pharmacist Support, it wants to make pharmacy owners and teams aware of the charity’s services and where to turn for help.
Pharmacist Support offers a number of support services, helping people across the profession who are facing many personal challenges.
CPE CEO Janet Morrison said, “At Community Pharmacy England, the mental health and well-being of pharmacy owners is a priority close to our hearts. Our annual Pharmacy Pressures Survey and regular polling highlight the scale of the challenges pharmacy owners face across the sector.
"Staffing pressures remain chronic and morale is at breaking point. Wellbeing consistently ranks as one of the biggest concerns at work, alongside operational and financial pressures.
“Many pharmacy owners work under extreme pressure. Across the sector, they are exhausted, feel undervalued, and are uncertain about the future of their pharmacies.
"Issues such as patient abuse, medicine supply shortages, and financial pressures take both a professional and personal toll."
Pharmacist Support chief executive Danielle Hunt said, “We’re delighted to be working with Community Pharmacy England. This collaboration will allow us to extend our reach and support more pharmacy owners and teams at a time when many are under significant pressure.”
