Some community pharmacies are having to reduce their opening hours or close for certain days as a result of Covid-related staff shortages.

According to the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), the current Omicron wave is putting pharmacies under major pressure.

“Pharmacies are experiencing significant pressures due to the reduced availability of staff who have Covid-19, may be unwell with other routine illnesses or are close contacts of people with Covid-19. This is exacerbating a pre-existing shortage of pharmacists and pharmacy staff that has grown more acute in recent years,” explained IPU secretary general, Darragh O’Loughlin.

He said that these staff shortages have come at a time when demands on pharmacies have increased significantly, not least because of the key role they have played in the Covid vaccination programme.

Mr O’Loughlin insisted that pharmacies will “strive to maintain services”, but he has appealed to the public to plan ahead and wherever possible to order required medications, such as repeat prescriptions well in advance.

“Reduced hours and temporary closures cannot be ruled out. We would ask all members of the public to be patient when visiting their pharmacy and understand certain services may take longer than usual,” he added.