Wholesalers are experiencing “severe shortages” of pharmacy delivery tote boxes, which are an “integral part” of their picking processes, HDA chief executive Martin Sawer said yesterday (March 19).

Mr Sawer asked pharmacies to “help the whole medicines supply chain by returning any totes to the delivery driver” when they make the delivery.

The shortage of tote boxes is “particularly affecting the work being done by the automated sections of [wholesalers’] warehouses as part of the twice-daily picking cycle”, he added.

“Tote boxes also help us to protect and track medicines and are essential to safe medicines supply in the UK,” Mr Sawer explained.

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.