Pharmacy and Medicines
There are currently no medicines shortages as a result of COVID-19. There is no need to stockpile medicines or request additional prescriptions. If you are experiencing symptoms and need to stay at home, family members or neighbours can collect prescriptions on your behalf. If you normally have your prescription medicines delivered and are symptomatic, this will not change, however, doorstep procedures may be implemented.
The way you receive your prescription medicines may have changed due to the pandemic and prescriptions can sometimes take longer than before to be processed.
If for any reason your usual pharmacy is temporarily closed, NHS inform has a complete list of pharmacies, where you can search for your nearest open pharmacy.
Serial Prescriptions
If you receive regular repeat prescription medicines, you may be eligible for a serial prescription. Instead of ordering your medicines every one or two months, your GP will issue a long-term prescription which will last for 24, 48 or 56 weeks. You can then collect your medicines from your pharmacy every four or eight weeks.
You will no longer need to order from the GP practice and your medicines will be ready to collect from the pharmacy when you need them.
Find out more by asking at your pharmacy or GP practice and on the NHS Inform website.
Managing Prescribed Sharps Safely
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and additional demands being placed on local pharmacies, it may not be possible for them to take prescribed sharps waste. In this case, we would ask that you retain your sharps waste safely within your home.
Please ensure that you:
- Do not overfill the sharps waste container and seal when the recommended level is reached.
- Store filled and sealed containers safely at home until community pharmacies can accept the waste again.
- Do not put sharps waste into your household waste.
Patients can obtain additional empty sharps waste containers from their community pharmacy.
If you are unable to store this waste safely at home or do not have someone who can help you to store this safely, please contact: Pharmacy Services - 01383 565351.
Prescriptions from Hospital Specialist Service
If your medicines are prescribed by a hospital Specialist Service please contact the appropriate hospital below to confirm that your medicine is ready for collection:
Pharmacy Dispensary at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
Telephone: 01383 623623 ext 24734
Opening times:
Mon - Fri (09:00 – 17:00)
or
Pharmacy Dispensary at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
Telephone: 01383 623623 ext 21542
Opening times:
Mon - Fri (09:00 - 18:00) (09:00 - 17:00 on Public Holidays)
Sat (09:00 - 13:00)
Sun (10:00 - 13:30)
If your medication is not ready, please contact the Prescriber to arrange a prescription.
If your medicine is ready and you have a representative who can collect this for you, please ask them to collect it. They will be required to show some identification (driving licence, a bank card or passport).
Pharmacy First
NHS Pharmacy First Scotland is an NHS service provided by your local community pharmacy.
You can use NHS Pharmacy First Scotland if you are registered with a GP practice in Scotland or you live in Scotland.
If you have a minor illness, a pharmacy is the first place you should go for advice. You do not usually need an appointment and you can go to any pharmacy.
Your pharmacist can give you advice for a minor illness, and medicine if they think you need it. For more information, see visit the NHS Inform website.