The pharmacy chain Well has said one million patients have signed up to its text messaging service which tells them when their medicine is ready to be collected at one of its branches.

Well said feedback from patients about the free service, which has helped them avoid coming into a pharmacy or phone in to see if their prescription is ready during the coronavirus pandemic, had been “extremely positive.”

The notification service also works on landlines by using an automated message to inform callers their prescription is ready while on mobile phones, a text link takes the patient to information such as directions and opening times.

“This is a simple and efficient service that we’d encourage every one of our patients to sign up to,” said Well’s operations director Nigel Swift.

“Alongside centralised dispensing, where up to 60 per cent of repeat prescriptions are assembled centrally, this text alert service enables us to provide a seamless offering for patients and pharmacy teams alike.

“As soon as the package is scanned to our shelves the patient receives their text.”