Pharmacists 'verbally abused' and 'spat at' as pressure to deal with coronavirus mounts
Pharmacists are "being verbally abused and even spat at" according to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales.
The RPS said there has been a rise in reports of "totally unacceptable" abuse aimed at their members since the coronavirus outbreak.
They are urging people to respect staff who are dealing with increased work pressures due to the pandemic.
Pharmacies continue to stay open during the lockdown as they provide an essential service.
The RPS said the work community pharmacists do is "critically important", especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
They have written to the National Police Chiefs Council to ask for more assurances of protection for community pharmacy staff.
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Pharmacies have introduced several measures to protect staff against the virus like limiting the number of people allowed in at once, installing perspex screens at counters and enforcing two metre social distancing.
People are also advised not to visit any pharmacy if they or someone they live with has a temperature or a new and continuous cough, even if it is mild.