Peak Pharmacy issues important statement to customers as coronavirus crisis escalates

Peak Pharmacy is based in and around Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, the High Peak and South Yorkshire.

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Its statement said: “We feel it is important to let the wider community know what to expect when visiting a community pharmacy in these challenging times.

“Peak Pharmacy is experiencing unprecedented numbers of prescriptions arriving all at once and it is understandable that patients are anxious to get their medication.

“We would like to assure patients that our pharmacies have good stock of most medicines and we are working together to make sure there will always be access to pharmacy services – although it might not always be at your usual pharmacy.

“There will be some changes to opening hours as our teams work behind closed doors to allow us to catch up, but all pharmacies, where possible, will be open between 10am and midday and between 2pm and 4pm as a minimum and will usually be open longer.

“It would be helpful if you could avoid ringing the pharmacy to find out if they are open as this takes staff away from their work.

“Pharmacies are restricting the number of patients who can come in at any one time.

“This is for everyone’s safety so we can make sure there is room to stand two metres apart while waiting to be served.

“If there are queues outside the pharmacy, please keep two metres apart in the queue.

“If you are not in immediate need of your medication, please consider calling back at a later date.

“We are looking at ways to upscale the delivery service, but we don’t have any details yet.

“In the meantime, if you are self-isolating, please ask a family member, friend or neighbour to collect medicine on your behalf.

“If this is not possible and you need your medicine urgently we will, of course, do our best to deliver to your home.”

The statement added: “If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, such as a persistent cough or a raised temperature, you must stay at home and do not go into a pharmacy.

“All pharmacy teams are trying their hardest to keep our patients safe and supplied with their medication, while also being anxious about their own health and that of their families.

“We appreciate patience and understanding that we’re doing our best under very difficult circumstances.”

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