Pharmacists on the front line of the swine flu crisis are facing the possibility of guards to protect Tamiflu stocks as demand for the drug soars.

The news comes as longer-term measures, including changes in distribution locations and dispensing fees, are brought in around the country.

In London, security concerns have prompted some trusts to consider employing security guards to protect antiviral collection points.

David Kent, chief executive of Camden and Islington LPC, said the main worry was organised crime targeting collection points to sell the drug on the black market.
He said: “[PCTs] aren’t worried about patients, but distribution points will get a lot of product and [they are] worried about organised crime.”

A spokesman for NHS London, the strategic health authority for the capital, said: “Each PCT must make its own assessment to organise security if needed to protect their staff and ensure that Tamiflu is stored and distributed to those that have swine flu.”

There was sufficient Tamiflu available to avoid “heightened security” and “absolutely no need for armed security”, NHS London added.

In other parts of England, pharmacists have reported huge variations in the role PCTs have asked them to take in combating swine flu.

In Brighton, pharmacies that had been collection points were suddenly told Tamiflu distribution would be through one non-pharmacy collection point.

Pharmacist Mina Fedra, whose Westons Pharmacy had received £3.50 per box of Tamiflu dispensed, said the change came suddenly.

He said: “It was out of the blue. I came in over the weekend and the procedures had changed.”

In Gateshead, pharmacists have been asked to man non-pharmacy collection points, while in Surrey plans are in place to pay pharmacists a retainer and a £2 per box dispensing fee to continue offering antivirals.