From 9 April 2020, two services have been put in place.
Essential service
During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy contractors are requested to act as ‘backstop’ for the delivery of medicines for the 1.4 million shielded patients.
If the patient does not have a family member, friend or carer who can collect medicines for them, the pharmacy team should advise the patient that a local volunteer may be able to collect their prescription on their behalf and deliver it to them.
If the patient does not have a friend, family member, carer or volunteer who can collect their prescription items, community pharmacies will have to arrange a delivery for the patient. The community pharmacy will do this by either:
- delivering the medicines themselves as part of an advanced service
- arranging with another pharmacy who will deliver the medicines
- transferring the prescription to another pharmacy which is able to dispense and deliver the medicines
View payment details for the essential service (PDF: 12KB).
Advanced service
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a community pharmacy home delivery service is being commissioned. Community pharmacies will deliver prescribed items to specified and eligible patients who:
- have been advised by the NHS to shield due to their medical condition and not to present at the pharmacy
- and do not have anyone who can collect their prescription on their behalf and deliver it to them
View payment details for the advanced service (PDF: 790KB).
View the service directions from the Department for Health and Social Care (PDF: 59KB).
Pharmacy contractors
The essential and advanced services are not reflected in the published April 2020 Drug Tariff.