Pharmacies in east London expericed fewer medicines delivery problems than expected during the first half of the Olympic games last week (July 27 onwards), C+D can report.

Despite fears in the build up to the games that there would be major disruption to medicines deliveries in and around the Olympic Park, no significant problems have been reported.

The predicted severe disruptions to medicines deliveries during the Olympics have not occurred, say contractors

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About 600 pharmacies have only been receiving one delivery a day during the games, rather than the typical two, but pharmacists and the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) reported that the revised delivery schedule had been working well to ensure medicines were delivered. "I expected it to be really bad but as yet haven't seen any problems," Soheb Ganchi, the pharmacy manager at Vicarage Pharmacy in Stratford, told C+D."I'm getting my once-a-day delivery but I'm also getting a twice-a-day delivery from Sigma," he said.

And Sharifa Khanom, a locum pharmacist at Clockwork Pharmacy in Hackney, said the only difference she had seen since the Olympics began was medicines deliveries coming once a day rather than two. "Apart from that there haven't been any issues. The roads around the area are not particularly busy either," she added.

The BAPW confirmed yesterday (August 6) that during the first week of the Olympics there had been only minor incidents and "no general problems with the distribution of medicines to pharmacies affected by the Olympics".

"Incidents such as vehicle clampings, emergency bike couriers being used and a few delivery delays are examples of specific incidents," BAPW executive director Martin Sawer said.

"Overall we are very pleased with the months of preparatory work that have been undertaken by five BAPW members to ensure that medicines have been getting through to pharmacies without fail," he added.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals director Bharat Shah said the wholesaler's medicines deliveries were still running twice daily despite the games. Nor did he envisage any problems as the Olympics moved into its second week. "My drivers are reporting a bit more traffic around the Stratford area but everything is going OK so far," he said.

"It may be a little busier next week when the athletics begin, but I don't envisage any problems."

While there had been some "delays in making some deliveries", all the delays were "within the tolerance limits allowed under the revised distribution schedules", the association said.

And a spokesperson from AAH Pharmaceuticals said its drivers had been praised by customers for "going the extra mile" in areas affected by the games. Driver Carlos Teles received particular praise after carrying a delivery half a mile to a Sainsbury's pharmacy when roads were closed because of a cycle race.