By Neil Trainis

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has said some major multiple pharmacy chains have expressed concerns around staff wanting to wear protective equipment such as face masks as they worry it could lead to a "negative public perception".

Mark Pitt, director of defence services at the PDA, told Independent Community Pharmacist  PDA members working in “a number of the major pharmacy multiples” had reported this.

The PDA claimed some multiples were using NHE England & Improvement's guidance that pharmacy staff should not wear face masks unless in “high-risk situations such as supporting a person showing symptoms of Covid-19 in an emergency” to justify their position that masks were not “routinely necessary.”

Mr Pitt said: “We are aware through member feedback that a number of the major pharmacy multiples have expressed concerns when pharmacists state they want to wear PPE at work.

“These concerns tend to relate to a theoretical negative public perception and damage to the brand. The NHSE SOP is used as a reason for PPE not being routinely necessary.

“The PDA believes that pharmacists, as highly educated healthcare professionals, are best placed to make a decision on the available evidence about whether PPE is necessary in their working environment.”

PPE 'needed for morale'

Mr Pitt said the benefits of PPE went beyond “an infection control measure” and insisted it improved staff morale and attendance and had “positive benefits in the eyes of the public on the perception of pharmacy as a healthcare environment rather than just another retailer.”

“Employers have a strict duty to protect the health and safety of their staff at work and this extends beyond simply relying upon a government process,” he commented.

“Employers must undertake a detailed risk assessment of their own using relevant expertise and provide the equipment necessary to mitigate against that risk.

“Regrettably, some employers seem more concerned about the cost of proper safety measures and their brand image than the welfare of their staff.”

The Pharmacist Cooperative, a support network for pharmacists, also said it had seen messages from large multiples telling staff not to use some PPE items and warning staff they may be disciplined.

The Pharmacist Cooperative told ICP these were “some of the largest pharmacy chains in the country.”

PPE: What the multiples say

When asked what approach it took to staff wearing PPE, Boots UK said it was "closely following NHS guidance" and had put in place measures to protect its staff and customers including ordering 20,000 protective visors and 2,500 perspex screens for pharmacy counters in its stores as well as "other equipment to help with social distancing strategies." 

LloydsPharmacy said it has advised staff to follow official guidance on the use of PPE, adding: "It’s important that our teams feel safe and comfortable when carrying out their roles in these unprecedented times. Their health and wellbeing is our absolute priority and we really appreciate the work they are doing on the frontline to look after their patients.

"Our community pharmacies have PPE and we have asked our teams to follow the official guidance on how they use it. We’ve also provided them with some videos from our superintendent pharmacist on what Public Health England says about the use of PPE, the occasions when it should be used and why. 

"As well as PPE, we are installing protective screens and have commissioned the manufacture of visors to provide additional physical reassurance for our teams and further protection in addition to the 2m barrier and two-in-two out policy."