Branches of LloydsPharmacy are facing “significant challenges” in the delivery of this year’s flu vaccination programme, the multiple has said.

In an update yesterday (December 6) from LloydsPharmacy and the PDA Union following their October 12 quarterly meeting around issues faced by PDAU members in the company, the two parties spoke of multiple problems affecting vaccine rollout. 

“AAH deliveries, staffing (including double cover), technician (and locum) training, and managing the booking portal were discussed,” according to the update.

“It was agreed that communication over best practice would be shared with teams, data on technician service delivery would be analysed and discussed at a later date, and issues around booking portal appointment unblocking would be investigated.”

The PDA has previously raised concerns around the use of central booking systems for flu jab appointments by large pharmacy multiples, warning that the number of bookings can conflict with the need to provide core services such as dispensing.

The meeting also heard about health and safety issues, with union reps advised that “as a newly formed standalone business unit [following the sale by McKesson to the Aurelius Group this year] LloydsPharmacy is still in the process of establishing new H&S structures”.

On the issue of violence towards pharmacy teams, the statement added: “The company’s current policies and guidance around zero tolerance was discussed.

“It was agreed that the business will work towards a wider piece of communication and further guidance will be cascaded to colleagues on zero tolerance to violence and abuse to bring company policies closer to those of colleagues in other healthcare settings”

LloydsPharmacy has been approached for comment.