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Medicines and prescriptions
Help ease pressure on local pharmacies
Pharmacies are currently under huge pressure to make sure everybody gets their prescriptions and to ensure that everybody visiting the pharmacy is safe.
You should not visit a pharmacy if you have any of the symptoms of coronavirus.
Healthwatch Norfolk have put together some tips on how you can help ease the pressure on pharmacies and their staff.
Don't stockpile
People have been asking for advances on their prescriptions. Excess ordering is creating a huge strain on pharmacies and their staff and creating queues and long waits. Staff have been instructed to politely decline any advance orders.
Check opening times
To allow staff time to process orders, some pharmacies have amended their opening hours. Check websites or the pharmacy doors to find out what the opening times are.
If you can collect your prescription, do
Avoid requesting a delivery for your prescription where possible to ease the strain on staff and instead collect in person. Only request delivery where you have no-one else to ask.
Be kind
Be polite and thank staff for all they are doing. Don't complain if you've had a long wait. These are difficult times for all and pharmacy staff are doing their best to take care of us.
Vulnerable people who need help collecting their medicines
The shielding programme has ended for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable.
However, if you feel genuinely unable to collect medicine or are self-isolating, you can get help with collecting your prescription medication by:
- Asking friends or family
- Contacting a local volunteer group via an online directory:
- Lumi directory – for Norwich residents
- Lily directory – for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk residents
- Norfolk Community Directory – for people living in other parts of Norfolk
- Using NHS Volunteer Responders to request a volunteer. Visit the NHS Volunteer Responders website or call 0808 196 3646 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week)
If your pharmacy can’t deliver to you and you’ve tried all the options above, please call 0344 800 8020.