COVID-19 – Medicines Homecare Services

The National Clinical Homecare Association (NCHA) – the trade body representing the majority of organisations providing Clinical Homecare Services on behalf of the NHS – yesterday puiblished the following COVID-19 information for patients on their website:

• Most existing Medicines Homecare Services are continuing as normal. Your homecare provider customer services will contact you if they need to make different arrangements to ensure your treatment continues as planned.
• Routine homecare medicine deliveries continue as normal, but we will be implementing “social distancing” so you will not be asked to sign for your delivery and driver may appear more distant than usual as they will be avoiding direct physical contact with you. The delivery driver will not come into your home unless it has been pre-arranged with your homecare provider customer services and it is really necessary (e.g. if you are unable to physically carry a heavy parcel).
• If you or someone in your household has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms or has been advised to self-isolate you must tell your homecare provider customer services when they call you to arrange your next delivery or nurse visit.
• During the call to arrange your next delivery or nurse visit, your homecare provider will tell you if there are any changes being made to ensure your homecare service can be delivered to you whilst keeping you, homecare staff and other homecare patients safe.