The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has said the pandemic medicines delivery service will be supported by extra funding for community pharmacy.
In an update late on Wednesday (April 8), the PSNC announced that the negotiator has reached an agreement with NHS England & NHS Improvement on the details of the service which will be made public on April 9.
It said the service will ensure that the most clinically vulnerable patients can continue to safely receive their medicines, adding: “Changes to the pharmacy Terms of Service will require pharmacies to support these patients to get access to their medicines, including using the NHS Volunteer Responders, where appropriate.
“Where volunteers are not available contractors will be able to deliver via an Advanced Service.”
According to PSNC chief executive Simon Dukes logistics involved for pharmacies in delivering the service have been recognised but “PSNC still has some concerns around the use of non-DBS checked volunteers.”
He noted that contractors were allowed to continue any existing delivery services such as those in which they charge for medicines delivery to patients outside of the most vulnerable groups, but advised that these should be prioritised to those who need them the most during the pandemic.
