COVID-19 & Pharmacy
Community pharmacies across Teesside are providing a lifeline for patients and the public, working around the clock to ensure access to vital medicines and services is maintained.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has developed, pharmacies have seen an increased demand for prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and healthcare advice as the virus has taken hold. While some key public services became less accessible to the public, local pharmacies have remained open, continuing to support patients, often with little protection for their own health. Despite being under immense pressure, there have been many accounts of pharmacy teams in Tees who have gone above and beyond to continue to provide prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and healthcare advice.
Today, TEES Local Pharmaceutical Committee is asking the public to help support local pharmacies by:
· DO NOT ATTEND your local community pharmacy if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 – if you have a dry, persistent cough, fever or shortness of breath, please do not approach any of your local pharmacies. This will help keep pharmacy staff healthy so they can continue to serve the community.
· Being respectful to pharmacy staff – pharmacy staff are doing all they can to support patients and the public during this unprecedented time, often with limited resources. Please treat them with respect.
There has been many changes to restrictions since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020,
Keep up to date with the latest guidance .
Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because , you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19).
This helps stop the virus spreading to other people.
DO NOT ENTER A PHARMACY OR OTHER HEALTHCARE SETTING WITH ANY COVID SYMPTOMS
Sandie Keall, Chief Officer Tees LPC said:
“Community pharmacy teams across Teesside have been working hard to cope with increased demand from the public. This means they often work early morning to very late into the evening, weekends and bank holidays. They remain positive and resourceful during this unprecedented period of time. Many are going above and beyond to help and are doing everything they can to make sure everyone can continue to access medicines and healthcare advice. Today we are asking that patients and the public take some simple steps to help protect our pharmacists, so they can continue to be heroes on the frontline of the NHS.”