Homecare Medicines Service
This page aims to provide you with information about the Homecare Medicines Service, to make sure you receive your medicines safely and securely.
What is a Homecare Medicines Service?
“Homecare Medicines Service” is a term used to describe the delivery of your medicines to your home. With your consent, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust will send your prescription to one of our trusted Homecare providers who will dispense and deliver your medicines.
The service may also include appropriate training on how to use injectable medicine in your home. Used injectable medication should be placed in the sharps bin provided which will be collected for disposal by your Homecare provider
Who will provide my medicines?
The Homecare providers we use are private companies who are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to provide medicines and medical treatments. When your specialist team register you for the Homecare service, you will receive a welcome pack from the provider explaining who they are and what they do. The Homecare provider will be determined by which medicine you are receiving. Occasionally we may need to change you to a different Homecare provider; this will be managed with little or no impact on you.
How will a Homecare service benefit me?
A Homecare medicines service offers convenience and more control over your medicines supply. Delivery can be scheduled around your normal life. Repeat prescriptions are automatically requested by your Homecare provider ensuring continuity of supply. Your medication will be delivered to your home or another place that is convenient for you at regular intervals.
It is essential that you attend your regular hospital appointments to ensure the doctors can monitor your health. Not attending your appointments, including regular blood tests, could lead to your medicines supply being interrupted.
Are there any risks?
Homecare medicines are considered by the NHS to be a safe and convenient method of supplying medicines. You should be aware that there may be a small risk that medicines don’t reach you in time, leading to a missed dose. To minimise the risk your deliveries will be carefully managed and scheduled. You can further reduce the risk by:
Monitoring how much medicine you have.
- Contacting your Homecare provider when running out of medicine.
- Being available for delivery at the times agreed with the provider.
What are my responsibilities?
To be able to take part in a Homecare service you need to:
- Attend regular appointments and blood tests.
- Provide a contact number and/or email and keep the Homecare provider informed if these change.
- Answer any call or email from the Homecare provider.
- Be available (or your agreed signatory) to receive the delivery at the time and location agreed.
How will my medicines be delivered?
- Medicines are delivered in plain packaging.
- Vans are unmarked for confidentiality.
- You can nominate someone to accept the delivery for you.
- Delivery can be to your home, place of work or a relatives address.
- Sometimes it is possible to arrange delivery to another local collection point.
How should I store my medicine?
It is very important that you store your medicine correctly. All medicines should be stored out of sight and reach of young children.
Medicines that need to be stored in a fridge:
You should make sure that the fridge is in good working order before your first delivery so your medicines can be stored safely. If you do not have a working fridge, please let the Pharmacy Homecare Team or your specialist nurse know so the delivery can be put on hold. If a medicine has been left out if the fridge or your fridge has failed please contact your Homecare provider for advice. Do NOT use the medicine until you have been told it is safe to do so.
What if I have a Homecare problem?
The Homecare company will give you details of how to contact your care coordinator who will be able to help you with any delivery problems. For any medical assistance, you should always get in touch with your hospital clinical team. If you have any concerns with late receipt of medication which could result in missing doses, contact your Homecare provider or clinical team for assistance.
Your Feedback
Your feedback is very important to us and will enable us to review our processes and make improvements to the service. To provide us with your feedback,
please complete our electronic Homecare Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire by scanning the QR code:
Date of publication: 13/08/2024
Reference code: PIL235/IND013
Review date: 01/08/2027