A pharmacist has spoken of his shock after being attacked by an angry customer.

Krunal Vyas says the assault in the Sheppey Community Hospital's pharmacy makes him question whether he should keep putting his family at risk by working on the front line.

He said: "The man in question came to collect his and his wife's medication, and unfortunately because we are snowed under with a horrendous amount of work, his wife's prescription was not ready.

"He started shouting and swearing at my colleague, and I went to the counter to talk to him and try and calm the situation, but he wouldn't stop shouting.

"A lady behind him in the queue even asked him to calm down, but he wasn't having any of it.

"We had a massive line of people to get through and are only open for a few hours each day, so rather than argue with him I decided to move away so he could calm down.

"He called me back – I thought, to talk – but to my shock he punched me."

'Every day we go out to work we put our families at risk'

Thankfully, Mr Vyas says that he managed to move his face away so the irate man only caught him on his ear.

The 43-year-old father of two says the incident has left no physical damage, but a great deal of emotional turmoil.

He said: "There was a bit of pain but that has all faded away, but I could not stop shaking, and I still can't stop thinking about it.

"I have a wife and two young girls, and most of my staff have families.

"We don't even have PPE, every day we go out to work we our families at risk and we put our customers first.

"This is making me wonder if I'm doing the right thing by doing that."

Mr Vyas, who lives in Maidstone, added: "I just don't think it's acceptable to treat another person like this, especially when we are risking everything to keep everyone else healthy.

"You can't treat healthcare professionals like this."

A police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called at 4.10pm yesterday to a report an assault had occurred in Plover Road, Minster.

"The victim was not seriously injured and did not require medical treatment, the suspect had also left the scene."

"Officers are carrying out inquiries into the incident."

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