The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has today written to the British Retail Consortium asking it to ensure that all pharmacy staff are able to access priority opening hours in supermarkets for NHS staff. 

Given that many pharmacy workers do not have NHS ID cards, RPS requested that supermarkets accept alternative forms of identification from team members' employer or work setting. In the event that an individual doesn’t have any form of ID card, RPS has produced a letter to be shown at the supermarket, which should be validated with the staff member’s workplace stamp.

RPS president Sandra Gidley said: “Pharmacy teams are key workers, providing critical support for the NHS on the frontline for patients and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The workload and pressures that pharmacy colleagues are facing at this time have increased significantly. The opportunity for dedicated priority shopping would be a huge source of support and comfort to pharmacy teams right across the country.”