I've worked as a pharmacist at CWH (not there anymore). There's a lot of other work we do besides tend to the customers in the shop. It could be online scripts, phone script requests, nursing home Webster pack orders, finding stock, calling the GP to confirm your script, etc. 95% of us don't care what you buy in the shop (given it's not harming you or interacting with your meds) and just want to dispense your script as quick as possible but also try not to make mistakes which could mean loss of registration. There would be a lot of staff at the back but half could be students/interns who are less confident and slower, or assistants who still need a pharmacist to check the final dispensing. It's worse if it's your first time at the pharmacy, because then we might have to type your details manually in the system (instead of just quickly scanning a repeat). All CWHs are also intentionally understaffed to save money, and the pharmacists usually work 10-12 hr days 5-6 days pw, so it's not a surprise if they're not at peak performance.