Available in more than 250 Superdrug stores, the service is powered by rapid delivery specialists Stuart and is available to customers within a radius of two miles from each participating branch, the multiple said in a statement yesterday (November 9).

A spokesperson told C+D today that the participating stores include some with pharmacy provision, as well as some without.

Patients selecting the rapid delivery option can expect prices per delivery to start at £5.40 excluding VAT, Superdrug wrote on its website. They will need to sign up and create an account with Stuart to be able to access the service, the spokesperson added.

Products that are eligible for rapid delivery include pain relief, cough and cold products, and vitamins, Superdrug added. Pharmacy (P) medicines are among the health products that patients can order via the service, according to the spokesperson.

Patients should only use the service between 11am and 4pm.  Outside of those hours, the store might be closed “and [this] will result in a cancellation from Stuart”, Superdrug added on its website.

Superdrug healthcare director Michael Henry said that the service will “offer millions of people the option of having essential healthcare products quickly delivered to their door when they most need them”.

Effects of pandemic on delivery demand

Earlier this year, Pharmacy2U and Royal Mail announced they were partnering to offer same-day deliveries of some medication and healthcare products, following a surge in demand for deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Lloydspharmacy announced in July last year that it was partnering with Deliveroo to deliver a range of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and healthcare products to patients, while in August this year, Boots made nearly 100 OTC medicines available for delivery via Deliveroo.