Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS professionals on prescribing longer courses of medication for people who have to self-isolate and require regular medication during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Government has advised that the duration of prescriptions should not be increased as this would put strain on the supply chain and presents a potential risk to patient safety.

Steps have been taken to reduce the need for a longer course of medicine. Patients, who are required to shield during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a medical condition as identified by NHS England and NHS Improvement, may have any prescription medication that they require delivered to their homes if they do not have family members, friends or a carer who can collect medicines on their behalf. Pharmacies can advise the patient of the potential for a local volunteer to act on their behalf to collect their medicines or, if this is not possible, arrange for the delivery of the medicines either themselves or through another pharmacy.