What is a pharmacy out of hours service?
Community pharmacies already play their part in the current provision of ‘out of hours’ (OOH) pharmaceutical services through extended opening hours, rota services and on-call services. However, now there are opportunities for community pharmacists to set up OOH pharmaceutical services, such as minor ailment schemes which support the provision of OOH services by primary care trusts (PCT) or organised OOH providers. OOH medicines supply should still preferably be made via community pharmacies. However in many areas the OOH provider will need to make provision for supply outside the times when pharmacies are open in the locality. Please note that if a prescription is obtained via the OOH service, then prescription charges are still applicable unless the patient is exempt, and the payment method may differ from one provider to another.
