Pharmacists close to burnout phase

PHARMACY workers are being urged to reach out to support services, as pressure resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic pushes the profession toward the burnout phase.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) Queensland Branch President, and TerryWhite Chemmart Professional Practice Manager, Chris Campbell, told a PSA-hosted COVID-19 webinar last night, that pharmacy owners and managers needed to adopt strategies to relieve the workload being faced by current staff, as the crisis continues.

“One of the interesting things that we’ve seen is pharmacy owners reaching out to ex-staff members, people who have worked before in the pharmacy, who’d gone into other careers and have now been forced out of work, or are in a more flexible arrangement, who are very comfortable to come back in,” he said.

“If you haven’t done that already... start reaching out now, we know about our pharmacies that are starting to reach the burnout phase.”

Campbell added that pharmacists needed to find a way to “switch off”, if possible to help manage their stress levels.

“You’re on the front line and you’ve got that feeling of risk,” he said.

“It’s not something that we’ve had to deal with before.

“Do not hesitate to reach out to the Pharmacists’ Support Service (PSS), even if it’s to run through how others are dealing with the increased pressure.”

PSA National President, Dr Chris Freeman, also encouraged pharmacy owners and managers to have regular check-ins with their teams as a group to ensure staff members remain connected despite reduced contact with each other.

Pharmacists can contact the anonymous and confidential PSS hotline on 1300 244 910 betwen 8am and 11pm, 365 days a year.