NHS prescriptions will be delivered to people’s doors by Uber.
From March, Brits can use Healthera – an NHS-recommended app for repeat prescriptions – for delivery in just one hour.
Customers can also order everyday medications and health products from more than 1,500 participating local pharmacies.
They can then track their order in real time, from the dispensing of their medicine to the Uber driver showing up at the door with it.
Healthera, which is used by 750,000 people in Britain, said the partnership supports the government’s ‘Pharmacy First’ initiative, which launches tomorrow and will see chemists given the power to treat common conditions and prescribe certain medicines to write.
Customers can also order daily medications and health products from more than 1,500 participating local pharmacies. They can then track their order in real time, from the dispensing of their medicine to the Uber driver showing up at their door
As it stands, patients using Healthera can order their prescription and choose whether they want to pick it up from their local pharmacy about two days later or have it delivered, which takes about three days.
However, through Uber Direct, patients can choose to receive their medicine within an hour of ordering, or within a chosen time frame of 60 minutes, in both cities and rural areas.
Prescriptions will still need to be written by a doctor after a consultation, while repeat scripts will need to be signed off by a GP before being dispensed, it said. The Telegraph.
Patients will still have to pay for medicines and prescriptions in the usual way and will be charged an additional delivery fee for the service, the newspaper reported.
The service will be powered by the same technology and couriers used for takeaway and grocery delivery service Uber Eats.
Brits can already place orders with Boots via the Uber Eats app to have over-the-counter medicines, as well as toiletries and make-up, delivered to their homes.
However, Healthera offers the first express delivery for prescriptions available nationwide.
Research commissioned by Uber shows that three-quarters of Brits want their prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines delivered on demand.
Quintus Liu, CEO and Founder of Healthera, said: “Healthera aims to provide practical solutions that will help local pharmacies provide the best possible service to their communities.
“Our partnership with Uber Direct now adds a best-in-class delivery infrastructure that will enable them to offer customers and patients greater delivery speed, reliability and convenience.”
Caroline Varga, head of Uber Direct UK&I, said: “This partnership makes essential health products and medicines more accessible to people across the length and breadth of the country.
‘It is a collaboration that helps pharmacies better support customers and patients in their area and grow as a company.’
It comes as the Government’s first pharmacy initiative launches tomorrow.
This will allow patients to receive care for seven conditions in more than 10,000 pharmacies in England without having to make an appointment or see a doctor.
Pharmacies that have joined the program can treat and prescribe medications for earaches, sore throats, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, urinary tract infections and infected insect bites and stings.
NHS England hopes it will free up as many as 30 million GP appointments each year.
However, the Company Chemist Association told the Mail that the initiative could fail unless GP practices are banned from recruiting more pharmacists.
The trade body, which represents leading chains such as Boots and Superdrug, says there are so many pharmacists now working for GPs that they are struggling to recruit for their stores.
The NHS has encouraged GPs to recruit non-medical staff such as pharmacists, physiotherapists and paramedics in a bid to close staff shortages and ease pressure on GPs.
Healthera, which is used by 750,000 people in Britain, said the partnership supports the government’s ‘Pharmacy First’ initiative, which launches tomorrow and will see chemists given the power to treat common conditions and prescribe certain medicines to write.
Meanwhile, millions of people in England can access and view their prescriptions via the NHS app from today.
Patients can check whether their prescriptions have been written and view their prescribed medications.
Additionally, people waiting for NHS treatment can see the average wait time for their procedure with their local counselor.
Health Minister Victoria Atkins said the update will make access to care “easier for everyone”.
She said: ‘Today’s update means ordering and collecting your prescriptions can be done with just a few taps of your fingers.
‘Not only will this benefit everyone who receives a prescription, it will also ease the pressure on our hardworking pharmacists and GPs, freeing up valuable time for patients and reducing waiting lists.’
NHS England said every repeat prescription order from the app saves GP practices three minutes and saves patients 18 minutes with every online order.
Dr. Vin Diwakar, medical director for transformation at NHS England, said: ‘Giving all patients in England direct access to prescription information via the app means they will know when their prescription will be issued and avoid collection delays.
‘The new feature also means that people who have not set up a nominated pharmacy can present the barcode in the app to a pharmacy of their choice, without the need for a paper version.’