I created this guide of all the things my pharmacy team needs to consider following the COVID-19 outbreak. I’m thinking about these things and so must my community pharmacy colleagues.

I’m conscious it is a living document and will need adapting as the days, weeks and even months go on. However, community pharmacists should consider preparing for the pandemic by implementing each of these actions.

Maintaining social distancing

1. Put a notice on your front door informing patients of the latest advice on COVID-19 and ensure this information is up to date
2. Create a barrier around the pharmacy counter of one to two metres. Some pharmacies in Europe have installed plexiglass screens, like in banks
3. Create clear aisles in your pharmacy for patients to wait in, so they can maintain distance between themselves
4. Restrict the number of people who can enter your pharmacy at one time

Looking after staff

5. Create rotas for staff so they aren’t all patient-facing at the same time or all of the time
6. Consider the safety of delivery drivers, especially if they are delivering medications to those who are self-isolating
7. Assess whether you have the capacity to provide an increased delivery service
8. Plan ahead for the possibility of members of your staff falling ill
9. Keep phone numbers for locums and fromer members of staff on hand in case you need cover
10. Ensure your staff wash their hands regularly

Handling Patients

11. Sign the back of prescriptions for patients to reduce the risk of transferring germs
12. Re-schedule any face-to-face patient consultations
13. Use the telephone to provide consultations for services where possible
14. Increase the frequency of cleaning in the pharmacy, paying attention to public areas such as doors and counter tops
15. Take contactless payments instead of cash payments
16. Ask patients who come in with a paper prescription to nominate a pharmacy for their scripts to be sent to electronically, in case GP surgeries have to close
17. Figure out how you will contact your local GP practice teams if they do close and you have a query with a prescriber who may be working from home
18. Limit the sale of some of the over-the-counter products like paracetamol to ensure that there is always some available for those who need it
19. Consider how to sustain adequate stock control of essential medication in light of the current medicine shortages
20. Plan how you will deal with requests to supply medication early for patients who are concerned that they need to self-isolate
21. Draw up a strategy for how your delivery service will respond to increased demand
22. Consider whether you can ask patients to send a friend, neighbour or relative to collect their medicine instead of delivering it
23. Decide how you will communicate with your patients about pharmacy updates by using social media, text, email, a website, leaflets or other means
24. Consider which of your patients are most vulnerable and how you can support them

Keeping the business alive

25. Review your business continuity plan and ensure all staff are aware of it
26. Discuss business continuity plans with your GP practice teams and pharmacies. Your primary care network community pharmacy lead may be able to co-ordinate this
27. Run through a mock scenario with your team where you have to close the pharmacy and consider all the people who would need to be informed
28. Get in touch with your insurer to check what is covered
29. Find contacts for companies that can do a deep clean
30. Have the details of your local health protection team handy
31. Find out the contact email addresses for all GP practices and key members of staff
32. Work with your practices to change patients over to repeat dispensing to allow flexibility of supply over the next few months
33. Ensure regular breaks for you and your team

Reena Barai is community pharmacist and National Pharmacy Association board member

Due to COVID-19, workers across UK pharmacy are under great pressure right now. If you would like to find out how you can help, take a look at current vacancies in and around your location. All levels of pharmacy professionals are needed.