Coronavirus: Medication for extremely vulnerable patients

Collecting outpatient prescriptions (vulnerable patients)

Contact details (Monday - Friday 09:00-17:00)
Telephone: 01223 638700        
Email: papworth.pharmacyoutpatients@nhs.net

Collection is the most reliable method.

• Collecting medicines falls under the Government's list of essential activities.
• Asking a relative or friend to collect is the preferred option (unless they are vulnerable/in a 14-day isolation period).
• Community volunteers may also collect medication if you can arrange this.
• We will only use postal/courier services when there is no other option to avoid overloading services and the risk of delayed delivery.
• The hospital is only able to prescribe the medication you would usually receive from us.

Collection by a relative, friend or community volunteer

When you have been informed by your clinician, or the clinic team, that a prescription has been written for you please contact Royal Papworth Hospital (01223 638700) with the following information:

• Your name, date of birth and hospital/NHS number.
• The medication you are due to collect.
• The name of the person who will be collecting your medication and estimated collection time.
• The address to which the medication will be delivered.

You may use the short-stay parking spaces immediately outside the front of the hospital's south entrance for this. 

Relatives or friends should come to the pharmacy hatch with the following information:

• The patient's name and either their date of birth or hospital/NHS number. 

Community volunteers should come to the pharmacy hatch in our main reception area with the following information:

• The patient's name and address to which the medication will be delivered. 

Delivery by Royal Mail, volunteer driver or courier

Outpatient admin staff who have been re-deployed to the pharmacy department will package and address the medication for delivery. They will liaise with outpatient staff regarding any ancillary items that also require sending.

Postal deliveries:

Due to the current demands on the postal service, Royal Mail will no longer guarantee deliveries by 13:00 the next working day, however they will still prioritise special delivery parcels and letters.

At the present time Royal Mail are not asking the recipient to sign for items delivered.

Courier deliveries:

Fridge items, liquids and powders should not be sent by Royal Mail.

Hospital volunteer drivers will be used where possible. When unavailable a courier company will be used.

Homecare delivery

Homecare services are continuing to operate. At the present time drivers are not asking the recipient to sign for deliveries but must witness them being collected at the door. Medication will not be left unless there is someone at home.

Patients should carry on with their usual delivery schedules unless directed otherwise. Some cystic fibrosis patients may see a change to delivery schedules in the future for specialist medications. 

There is no capacity to divert any medication that would ordinarily be dispensed directly from the hospital's pharmacy to Homecare.​​​​​​