Services Database Emergency Supply Service

In an emergency, a pharmacist can supply prescription only medicines (POMs) to a patient (who has previously been prescribed the requested POM) without a prescription at the request of the patient. This emergency supply is not an NHS service and patients may therefore be asked to pay the cost of the medicine. This can lead to some patients seeking supplies or emergency prescriptions from urgent or emergency care providers. This service will allow the supply of a medicine at NHS expense where the pharmacist deems that the patient has immediate need for the medicine and that it is impractical to obtain a prescription without undue delay,during the out of hour’s period (when GP practices are closed).

This service is commissioned for every bank holiday and weekend during the year – to start at 6pm on the evening before – i.e. Friday for a weekend, and finish 6pm on the evening before normal business resumes – i.e. 6pm on a Sunday for weekends. 

• May Day 2/5/16;
• Spring Bank Holiday Monday 30/5/16;
• August Bank Holiday 29/8/16;
• Boxing Day 26/12/16;
• Tuesday 27/12/16; and
• Monday 2/1/17

The pharmacy contractor has a duty to ensure that pharmacists involved in the provision of the service have relevant knowledge and are appropriately trained in the operation of the service.