Pharmacy network mobilises to deliver life-saving medicines, on foot

Pharmacy teams across the UK are making deliveries on-foot to ensure sick and vulnerable people get vital medicines in time, despite the treacherous weather.

Experts believe that without the efforts of local community pharmacists, thousands of sick and vulnerable house-bound people could have deteriorated – putting huge pressure on emergency services.

Meanwhile, people who are struggling to access health-care services are being reminded that community pharmacy is the most accessible part of the health sector, with 89% of people in England living within 20 minutes’ walk of a pharmacy.

Ian Strachan, NPA chairman, said: “If you are stuck at home and you need your medicine, that’s an emergency and pharmacy teams are responding to these emergencies on countless occasions.

“We are being inundated with stories of people literally lacing up their boots and getting out there to make sure people are getting their medicines.

“When poorly or vulnerable people miss their medication it can be life threatening but often it means they can deteriorate quickly and need urgent GP or hospital care, when these services are already over stretched.

“But even those who are just a little bit under the weather can take comfort that there is likely to be a community pharmacy open, and ready to give expert clinical advice, within relatively easy reach.”

Pharmacies are contracted to deliver NHS services, including dispensing prescriptions, but the delivery service that most provide is not reimbursed by the government.