Community pharmacy home delivery service will be commissioned from Thursday (September 24) for shielded patients who live in the local Covid-19 outbreak areas until October 5.
Eight wards within North East Blackburn and Leicester City have been included in the list of local Covid-19 outbreak areas.
The latest move by the government follows the ongoing local Covid-19 outbreaks in various areas across England.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has decided that the pandemic delivery service requirements should continue to apply from September 24 to October 5 for shielded patients who live in the local outbreak areas.
Consequently, community pharmacies across England will be required to ensure shielded patients in these areas can receive their prescription medicines and appliances.
Further announcements may be made depending on government advice and decisions.
The terms of service requirements continue to apply to all contractors in England and the contractors located in the local outbreak areas will continue to receive the essential service payment.
“Community pharmacy contractors are able to claim payment for delivery of medicines to patients within the lockdown areas notified within this announcement under the Community Pharmacy Home Delivery Service on the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal,” according to the letter published by NHS England and NHS Improvement on Tuesday (September 23).
Contractors must submit their claims for payment via the MYS platform by the fifth of the month after the service was provided.
Claims for this service will not be accepted after the fifth of the following month.
Payment for the essential service will be restricted to pharmacies with a postcode in the lockdown areas notified within this announcement and this will be paid automatically.
Health secretary Wes StreetingPic credit: Gettyimages
