Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service begin prescription deliveries

This support was requested by pharmacies across Derbyshire, and working with Derbyshire County Council, the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) and the Fire Brigade Union (FBU), an agreement was put in place for the service to fulfil their request.

Councillor Kevin Buttery, Chair of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority said: “This initiative is the latest addition to the work the service is undertaking to support the community response to Covid-19, showing we are ready, willing and able to support our communities and partners whilst still providing an effective emergency response.

“The service has adapted quickly delivering over 8,160 prescriptions to vulnerable people across Derbyshire on behalf of pharmacies, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and now the additional service on behalf of the Royal Derby Hospital.

“We have also partnered with East Midlands Ambulance Service, providing 12 operational employees who have been trained and are ready to assist with rapid response driving should they be needed and firefighters ready to deliver vital equipment for medical trials on behalf of The Clinical Research Network East Midlands.

“Alongside our operational colleagues we also have members of our support staff taking part in a telephone befriending service, making weekly telephone calls to vulnerable people who may be experiencing loneliness.

“I’m really proud of the work being undertaken by the service. Not since wartime have communities had to pull together in such a way, and all of the work taking place by all of the agencies working to respond to the pandemic, really does underline that we are all Making Derbyshire Safer Together.”

Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Barry Lewis, said: “Our Community Response Unit has fulfilled around 2,900 requests for help from Derbyshire residents who are in need and without friends or family to help deliver food, prescriptions or even just have a chat on the phone to help combat loneliness.

“We are grateful for the support of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service in helping maintain the supply of important medicines to our vulnerable patients during the pandemic.”