You might not have thought of this, but did you know that when you visit your GP and if you need a prescription why not ask for it to be sent with your mobile phone number by email to your chemist. That way instead of standing in a queue to wait for your medication you can pop into the chemist when you receive a text message. A message that tells you that your prescription is ready. Please remember to tell your GP to ask your chemist to send you a text message.
At the moment pharmacies are delivering an excellent service to the public despite the rise in business caused by the COVID-19 virus.
NHS Fife say
EXTRA TIME MAY BE NEEDED…
“Patients are reminded that they should follow their normal repeat prescription ordering pattern and only order the medicines they need. However, in light of demand at this time, patients should allow some extra time to ensure the prescription is generated, taken to the pharmacy and then assembled, labelled and clinically checked by the Pharmacist.”
NO NEED TO STOCKPILE…
“There are currently very few issues with the supply of medicines so there is no reason for individuals to order extra or to stockpile medicines at home.”
“Due to significant demand in response to COVID-19, there may be occasion when some pharmacies will close for short periods, or operate reduced opening hours. Where this happens there will be clear signage on the entrance to the pharmacy as to when they will be open again or directions to an alternative open pharmacy.”
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
“The increased demand over the last few weeks has lead to prescriptions taking longer than usual to be processed and the patience and understanding of the public is very much appreciated. It is important that people order prescription medicines in the usual way and I would stress to only order the medicines needed at that particular time. This will enable medicines to be available for everyone that needs them and will not impact on the medicines supply chain ( as we have seen with foodstuffs, toilet roll etc. )”
NEW PRESCRIPTION SERVICE FOR THE VULNERABLE…
There is also a new service to deliver prescriptions to the vulnerable. It is being managed by Fife Voluntary Action (FVA) and it kicked into action on Wednesday 25th March 2020. Since then the demand has been amazing. It uses the services of volunteers to provide the service. Therefore below is the advice from an NHS SpokesPerson to help FVA:
“The newly established priority delivery service is for vulnerable people who are very unwell or self-isolating and have no carer, family member, neighbour or friend who can collect prescriptions from the pharmacy on their behalf.”
So how does the service operate?
Firstly, it is volunteers that will collect prescription medicines from community pharmacies and hospitals, and deliver them to people at their home. Therefore, it relies on their goodwill, when contacting the organisations to be patient and courteous.
Volunteer drivers will try to attend community pharmacies to collect prescriptions from
9 AM – 10 AM or 5 PM – 6 PM
when pharmacies may be closed to the public. This is to minimise risk and disruption to services.
Secondly, you need to make contact with your GP but when you do:
AD-HOC GP PRESCRIPTIONS.
Tell your GP Practice which community pharmacy you would like the prescription sent to. For many people, you will have already done this and the GP Practice will know. If not, you should suggest a community pharmacy near your home. From then on your prescription will be sent directly to the chemist you usually use. As explained earlier once this is set up an email is sent to the chemist for all future prescriptions.
The outcome then may be:
- A single prescription
- A number of defined repeat prescriptions
- Repeat Prescription. If you are a patient that uses the repeat prescription service then this service is very similar to the other services. Therefore, please arrange for your repeat prescription (when you are ready to reorder) to be taken to the chemist. Do this after hours and have it popped through the Chemist’s letterbox – ideally in an envelope.
PRESCRIPTION COLLECTION AND DELIVERY
To access the delivery service, a phone line will operate:-
between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
For more info please see
Fife Voluntary Action would now prefer patients to complete an online form in the first instance – please click on… www.fva.org/prescription
Please note you will need to scroll down the page as the form cannot be seen when you open the page.
but will also respond to telephone calls and emails.
If you have a prescription either paper or sent by email and managed to get it to the chemist then send an email to:-
Email: prescriptions@fva.org
Please note FVA cannot collect and deliver prescriptions for Methadone and Subutex: Unfortunately, we are unable to collect or deliver these drugs. Please contact addiction services on 01592 716 446 if you need help with these items.
FVA will need the following information:
Personal Information.
- Your First Name:
- Your Last Name:
- Your Street Address:
- Your Main local area and Postal Town
- Your postcode:
- Your phone number
- Mobile:
- Home:
Your GP practice
- Name
- Address
Your Community Pharmacy (Your Local Chemist)
- Name
- Address
- Date and time the prescription was ordered
- Is this an urgent Prescription?
- If it is please tell us why, and when you will run out
- Any repeat prescription the following week
Special Instructions:
- Any items to be stored in a fridge
- How to operate the buzzer (If you live in a flat)
- Any other advice to help delivery – for instance, delivery directions, the Google Plus code for Google maps may help. Here is an example for the FVA Kirkcaldy:- 4R6P+55 Kirkcaldy
- Please note FVA cannot leave prescriptions unattended
Additionally, you need to say and agree to the following..
I (Your Name) agree to FVA processing the information you have provided here, and sharing it with NHS Fife, Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, Fife Council and pharmacies purely for the purposes of helping you to get your prescription(s) during this pandemic and any similar emergencies.