Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
PPE
The latest information regarding the use of PPE can be found here
Please ensure you are using PPE in accordance with the latest published information which is below
If social distancing of 2 metres from patients attending the pharmacy can be maintained there is no indication for PPE in a pharmacy setting. If this distance cannot be maintained, use of fluid resistant surgical masks (FRSM) is recommended.
We recognise that some pharmacy staff cannot stay more than 2 metres away from symptomatic people and will need masks. It would be extremely helpful, both to protect longer term supplies to pharmacies and to keep supplies going to other health professionals, if pharmacies limit the number of staff that have to be within 2 metres of the public to help manage the use of masks and maintain availability.
Ordering PPE
Community pharmacies should use the PPE stock that has been delivered to them and, when needed, order more from their wholesaler. More stocks of fluid resistant surgical masks were made available to wholesalers to supply to community pharmacies on 9 April 2020.
To order new supplies of PPE you should:
- Order from your usual supplier/wholesaler.
- If your usual supplier/wholesaler is unable to supply you with the required masks and you have less than 72 hours supply, please email england.pharmacysouthwest@nhs.net with the following information
This information will be collated daily and sent to Local Resilience Forums (LRFs), for consideration under mutual aid arrangements from the stock they hold. If the LRF is able to assist, you will be advised of the next steps. If they are not able to assist, NHSE & I will escalate the request to the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) line for support.