PATIENTS are being told to ‘be patient’ while having to wait to collect their prescriptions as pharmacies restrict the number of people allowed in. 

The plea comes from a local health charity in Reading as stores around the area begin to make the changes. 

Healthwatch Reading tweeted: “Some Reading pharmacies are starting to let only a few people into stores at a time, and are appealing to people to be patient.

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“This is to protect their staff so they can keep open front-line supply of medicines, and to protect you.” 

The charity shared a photo of a sign put up in the door of a Boots pharmacy, asking people in the shop to not get too close to each other. 

The sign stated: “We at Boots are working to limit the spread of coronavirus. 

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“In line with governmental guidance, you will be asked to observe social distancing in this store, to protect everyone in our community.” 

Healthwatch Reading spoke to Pharmacy Thames Valley, which represents local pharmacists, to ask what changes people can expect. 

David Dean, chief officer, told Healthwatch that the “first priority was to keep pharmacy staff healthy, so they could keep their front-line services open for the public”. 

People who have had symptoms of Covid-19 should not visit pharmacies, Mr Dean said.