The Scottish government is telling high street pharmacists that they will be on the ‘front line’ of the coronavirus fight as rules are relaxed to ensure patients still get the treatment and medicines they need. 

Pharmacy teams will make more use of existing procedures to give out repeat prescriptions to take pressure off GP surgeries that may be struggling or even closed.

They are also being advised to put measures in place to protect themselves when people collect prescriptions or when dropping them off at homes.

It comes as the first minister promises a boost to welfare and mental health support to help people deal with the social effects of coronavirus.

A letter from Scotland’s chief pharmaceutical officer Professor Rose Marie Parr  – who has  announced she will delay her plans to retire because of the outbreak – says the Scottish Government is encouraging GPs to use serial prescriptions that run for a much longer period. Pharmacy staff will also be able to use an existing route to dispense medicines if a local GP practice is out of action.

Representative body Community Pharmacy Scotland is in discussions with the government to ensure pharmacies get support to continue or if they have to close because of coronavirus.

Demand for home drop offs is expected to rise and delivery drivers are being told to consider ‘maintaining distance’ and not asking for a signature when delivering medicines.

High street pharmacies are also being advised to get family members and neighbours to pick up prescriptions on behalf of someone who has Covid-19 symptoms.

Meanwhile the pharmacy workforce regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), is relaxing rules to allow retired professionals to return to work and is promising to be flexible when staff might need to depart from usual practice because of exceptional circumstances.