Dealing with requests for medication collection and delivery
Updated 16.08.2023
Please don’t leave your request for a prescription or collection of medication to the last minute. Ideally, the surgeries and pharmacies need at least 5-6 days’ notice for repeat prescription requests, longer during periods of high demand.
The Government committed £300 million to pharmacies during the COVID-19 crisis, to assist with delivery of prescription medicines direct to the door of the isolated, shielded, at risk group. This funding has now ceased and in all but a few special cases, patients are expected to make their own arrangements for collection of medicines.
HemingfordHub will continue to assist those residents who cannot leave home for health reasons. We can arrange for collection of medicines from local surgeries or pharmacies as well as delivering ‘paper prescriptions’. Under no circumstances will medication be left with a neighbour or through the door but must be handed to the patient (or a member of the household).
Payment: to be agreed between the volunteer and the resident.
Don’t forget that some people are entitled to free prescriptions. If you are not one of these but have 2 or 3 items per month, it may be cheaper to use the prescription pre-paid option. We can give you further advice on this too.
Many of our wonderful volunteers are not quite so ‘available’ as they were during the pandemic. We are, however, very happy to help those who need us but if you are able to leave home or have a family member who can help, please could you consider this option first.
Requests for assistance should be made either by email to