Pharmacies in Scotland will receive an “initial package” of £5.3 million to mitigate the strain of Covid-19 following warnings overstretched services could see a rise in overdose deaths.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman praised the work of local pharmacy teams as she announced funding to cover the costs of equipment, adaptations, staffing cover and the extension of the minor ailments services.
It has been revealed workloads in local services almost doubled during March – with increased prescriptions, staff overtime and a higher level of consultations all resulting in additional costs for the service.
Ms Freeman said that where possible pharmacies will stay open over the Easter weekend to increase access for patients.
“Community pharmacies are very much a central part of our primary and community healthcare workforce and services,” Ms Freeman said.
“They are in many ways where most of us will secure the healthcare and support that we need. I want to thank all community pharmacy teams for their incredible hard work through this pandemic and in the weeks ahead.
“They are providing an invaluable service, ensuring patients in Scotland continue to receive vital medicines in what are unprecedented times.”
Ms Freeman said pharmacies had responded positively to her request for them to stay open on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Community Pharmacy Scotland, which worked with Ms Freeman on the package, has clarified the extra £5.3 million will be in addition to advance payments due for the end of April, which were announced at the end of last month.
In a statement, the body said community pharmacy had been “the real frontline in supporting patients within primary care in recent weeks” and pledged it would continue to engage with the Scottish Government on future funding.
The announcement comes after the CEO of one of Scotland’s leading drugs charities warned the coronavirus crisis could lead to a surge in fatal overdoses and called for workers to be redeployed to home deliver replacement therapies.
Scottish Drugs Forum boss David Liddell said reduced opening hours in community pharmacies had led to “far more people” being moved from daily supervised dispensing of methadone and buprenorphine to weekly or fortnightly ‘take home’ doses.
The Scottish Government announced on Monday an emergency £166,000 funding package to improve access to the anti-overdose medication naloxone and boost drug and alcohol services.
