Torquay Pharmacy assistant Spencer McKenzie needs ear glued after assault
A Torquay pharmacy assistant needed part of her ear glued together on Friday after she was assaulted by a customer claiming to be affected by the coronavirus.
Geelong
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A TORQUAY pharmacy assistant needed part of her ear glued together on Friday after she was assaulted by a customer claiming to be affected by the coronavirus.
Assistant Spencer McKenzie had opened the Surf Coast Pharmacy before 9am when she said an aggressive woman barged in and demanded medication to treat her airways.
“She was looking for a fight. She came in and said ‘I’ve got the coronavirus’,” Ms McKenzie told the Geelong Advertiser.
When Ms McKenzie tried to assist the woman she snapped and threw a glass medicine bottle at her from about 1.5m away.
“I just screamed. I fell to my knees and I was just shaking.”
Ms McKenzie said the woman, who she estimated was in her late 30s, ran from the store after the incident, which was witnessed by other customers.
The 25-year-old said customers were becoming increasingly aggressive towards staff amid medication shortages fuelled by concerns around the coronavirus pandemic.
“We get that people are scared, we are scared, too,” Ms McKenzie said.
“I just wish they would just remember that we are people.
“Think about how you are treating us because it is having such an impact on us.
“We are trying our hardest. We are all so exhausted. We are not the reason medication is running out.”
It’s understood management will consider employing security guards at the Surf Coast Highway pharmacy following the incident.
Ms McKenzie said recent limits on Ventolin and heart medication had left customers enraged.
“I’m trying to do my job as fairly as possible.
“One guy (who couldn’t get access to Ventolin) punched the door on the way out recently.”
Ms McKenzie was treated at a nearby medical clinic following the assault and was assessed at Geelong hospital.
The Breakwater woman who works long hours in a small team has been left shaken following the violent incident that she says is not the first act of aggression in recent weeks.
The Geelong Advertiser understands the woman responsible for the assault is known to police. She has been belligerent to pharmacy staff in the past.
It is not known if the woman has been tested for coronavirus. Pharmacy staff say the woman was not displaying symptoms of the virus when she entered the store.
Victoria Police was approached for comment but was unable to comment before deadline.
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Originally published as Torquay Pharmacy assistant Spencer McKenzie needs ear glued after assault