Boots charging for medication deliveries

[MrBlueSkype]

A bit outing, but I manage domiciliary services. Today I've been told that Boots will be charging all their customers £5 PER DELIVERY for medication deliveries. They can sign-up online and have it delivered for free from a central pharmacy, but local pharmacies in-store will have to charge.

The poor, poor vulnerable are yet again going to be shafted here. Older, vulnerable, learning disabilities, all kinds of people who have no family, or are off the radar, can they just make the switch? No they won't, some will ignore the letter to come and do without meds.

Slow claps Boots

(local pharmacies are still delivering for free and will continue to do so in my area).

AIBU to be mad about this?

[MrBlueSkype]

Sorry just but the government have been paying a grant for it. Local pharmacies will continue to deliver in my area. Please phone yours for info.

[MrBlueSkype]

Yes Pip is for help with health related illnesses, but I'll be honest, it is used for much more essential uses such as toileting, dressing, washing, feeding etc. There are so many other tasks carers do. Let me be frank here, someone is commissioned 1 hour of care, we all know it takes much longer down the line with medication collection ect,?

[IsobelRae23]

I really had not thought about this until now, but now it makes sense.

My exdp picked up my tablets a few weeks ago as usual, and a customer said to him you know you can have those delivered don’t you, and it saves you a trip. So he said it’s no bother as I pass here daily (he comes daily to see ds). The pharmacist shouted over ‘and we appreciate that thank you’. So the customer asked why she was saying thank you, and the pharmacist said ‘because by him picking his relatives medication up, it frees us a delivery for someone who has no one to pick theirs up on their behalf’.

So now it’s got me thinking, are there many people who are capable to pick theirs up, but instead have it delivered because it’s ‘easier’ not realising the pressure and costs to a local pharmacy?

[IsobelRae23]

GibbonLover I agree with @MrBlueSkype I did have PIP at enhanced rates, at my next assessment, although my conditions have got worse I scored zero. My mental heath was too poor in February to fight it. I’m currently on day 7/8, I’ve lost count, of not having a bath/shower as I can’t get in, and I used to pay for help when I was ill, as some days I’m fine.

But what was left over from my PIP paid for food. Bags of pre chopped carrots, onions, peppers, mushrooms etc. Which all cost a lot more than buying the veg whole. But I had a good assessor the first time, who had a sound knowledge of my conditions. My second was a joke. I really wish I could fight it again. But I’m too afraid of it triggering any changes to Universal Credit as I’m not on that. I lost around £600 a month in total.

That meant besides my food having to change, I can’t pay for care when I need it, I can no longer pay for a cleaner, I can’t pay for taxis for my hospital appointments so have to cancel when I’m unwell (I have a consultant appointment next week, the first I cancelled 23 months ago as I was too unwell to attend, this is the next appointment I got offered, and I’m under 6 consultants).

Everyone always shouts ‘just use PIP’, but people are using PIP to survive. £5 doesn’t seem a lot, but when you don’t have a lot it is.

[Kummerspeck]

#Isobel Yes there absolutely are people use the service who don't really need it. Unfortunately over the years some pharmacies have used services like deliveries and dosettes, when not strictly needed, to increase their market share. Now the funding is being squeezed they are reaping the whirlwind

[GibbonLover]

I'm on PIP and ESA myself and regardless of the perceived morality of this situation, the government will say that this £5 per month should be covered by PIP. Of course, the ideal situation would be some sort of exemption criteria based on ability and I wonder if Boots or any of the other chains actually do have one?

For whatever reason, Boots have concluded that it is no longer financially viable to deliver for free. To be fair, they are a business, not a charity and I agree that any rage needs to be directed towards our caring, sharing gov. and individuals who abuse the system. In many towns, Boots is the only pharmacy for miles so I'd say it's vitally important that they keep trading.

Isobel PIP has absolutely nothing to do with ESA or UC. You really, really should attempt to summon the mental strength to reapply or go to tribunal. Your exdp sounds decent, would he be able to help at all? The CAB can certainly help you. Also, did you know that in many cases you can claim taxi fares back? Here's a link that might be useful, you'll need to scroll down a bit:
www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

[timshelthechoice]

I'm not surprised. Petrol and peoples' time to drive deliveries around isn't free. They are not running a charity and sadly, people abused it.

[Screamanger]

I guess someone has to pay for the fuel

[MrMeSeeks]

think a lot is changing in the world of pharmacy; some companies are also planning to charge for weekly dosettes/trays and CCGs are stopping pharmacies from ordering prescriptions so patients will have to order for themselves too
My local little pharmacy stopped this a year ago

[Nautiloid]

£5 is a lot. My local pharmacy now charges £1. I can see why they charge. Really it should just be for vulnerable patients, but lots of people ask for delivery when they could easily collect themselves. I agree they should be charged just as they'd be charged for a supermarket delivery etc, but it is sad that the housebound etc have to suffer.

[hardyloveit]

One of our local pharmacy's have got rid of blister packs! I work in same area of work op and we collect our service users meds if they get charged

[JenniR29]

Sadly there have been multiple funding cuts to the pharmacy sector, combine this with increased fuel and drug costs and there is little choice but to try and recoup the money somewhere.

[TitianaTitsling]

Isobel can you not get patient transport? Speak to the secretary of your consultant.

[DeathMetalMum]

Lots of pharmacies are struggling to stay afloat. Rowland have also started charging, and both Lloyds and Rowlands have announced closures.

I work in and independent pharmacy, we still do deliveries at the moment. I think the owner is hoping to get some customers from the local chains as we still offer the delivery service. But by the time you add in the cost of the medicine, dispenser pay, driver pay, fuel etc etc delivering medication can actually cost pharmacies more than they will be paid by the NHS for dispensing the perscription.

[GeorgiaGirl52]

In my area there is not a single pharmacy that delivers! Some pharmacies have drive-thru 24-hour service, but never a delivery. The best you can do is get a refillable prescription delivered by mail monthly from pharmacy warehouses.

[WinnieTheW0rm]

"nobody complains about Tesco charging to deliver food

a) everyone has to pay for food, people do not necessarily (depending on their health needs or age) pay for medicine.
b) you have much greater choice over what you eat that over what medicines you should be taking
c) housebound people with complex needs probably don't use regular supermarket depiceries, but instead would have Meals on Wheels or Wiltshire Farm Foods (if they can symptom prepare food) neither of which have a separate delivery charge (probably reflected in their wider pricing structure, but neither are expensive)

[IAskTooManyQuestions]

Nothing is free in this world. Either taxes will be increased, or funding cut from somewhere else. One scenario is that Boots et al will stop delivering and the knock on is job loss for their drivers, or they outsource to a private company.

[Babdoc]

Boycott Boots and use independent local pharmacies, then.
Our chemist, ten miles away, delivers prescriptions to our village shop. That’s just one trip for them, so minimal cost in petrol/time. We collect from the village shop, and neighbours pick up for anyone housebound.

[stucknoue]

They are sending them by mail from a central pharmacy for free, or use an independent local pharmacy. You only need a delivery if you have lots of medications to manage (unless it's a controlled drug you normally get at least a month at a time on prescription) and pharmacies are willing to drop it off monthly, some people though don't organise their renewals for the same time so ask for them almost daily.

[stucknoue]

Just switched to central boots system for blister packs for the care home and so far so good, they are sending four weeks at a time.

[viques]

Oh yes, Boots, the company that prefers not to pay UK tax. What do you expect?

[locktech]

So if your are disabled you are not allowed out of the house perhaps a ankle bracelet as well

[sueelleker]

Dosettes are dosing boxes that put each day’s tablets into individual boxes for morning, evening etc. Essential for those with dementia or just age related confusion etc to ensure they take their often multiple medications correctly when they live alone
Luckily I can put my husband's medications in plastic boxes weekly for him; but if he lived on his own he's definitely need a dosette box or blister pack..

[makingmiracles]

@stucknoue sorry opi know this thread is a few months old but I wondered how one would go about that? Or is that only for homes?

My mum was with boots, when they started charging she went with a independent who delivered dossets for free (albeit very inferior ones where the whole back opens open and with mums lack of dexterity half end up on the floor) but now the independant have started charging £5 per box, so £20-25 a month and no annual option like boots annual £55 charge. I’ve advised her to go back to boots, providing they are still doing their dossets but getting a month supply at a time would be amazing and less hassle for the drivers delivering.