The pandemic delivery service has been extended in England, NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) has confirmed.

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In a letter to contractors last week (19 February) NHSE&I said the service will now run until 31 March 2021.

‘Both pharmacies and dispensing doctors across England will be required to ensure those on the Shielded Patient List across the country can receive their prescription medicines and appliances by home delivery until the date specified above if they are unable to arrange for medicines to be picked up,’ the letter said.

This comes as an additional 1.7 million people in England were identified by the Government as vulnerable and advised to shield until 31 March.

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The new cohort will be prioritised for vaccination and are eligible for free advice and support, such as prescription deliveries, under the pandemic delivery service.

Community pharmacy contractors can claim payment for the delivery of medicines to clinically extremely vulnerable patients under the Community Pharmacy Home Delivery Service on the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal.

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NHS England and NHS Improvement relaunched the pandemic delivery service — due to end on 19 February — in January, after the Government announcement of the commencement of a new national lockdown in England.