What Can You Do If You Need A Prescription In A Pharmacy Desert?

For the majority of people who have ongoing prescription needs, their local pharmacy is there for them and in most cases is unlikely to be going anywhere. If they need a prescription dispensed, they only need to travel a short distance to get it.

Pharmacies do far more than dispense medicine, however; they provide some advice for minor ailments, offer over-the-counter non-prescription medications to help with conditions and can even self-prescribe through initiatives such as the Pharmacy First scheme.

Beyond the services they provide, they are also just a community pillar; if you need help, they are often the first place to go as even if they do not have the service you need, they can generally point you to the place that does.

However, not everywhere is quite so fortunate, with some rural areas becoming “pharmacy deserts” where people need to travel further to access vital services.

What can you do if you live in a pharmacy desert or are spending enough time in one that you need to access your prescriptions without delay?

What Is A Pharmacy Desert?

A pharmacy desert is an area where there is a lack of pharmacies relative to the population, with the term originating in the United States as an analogue to the related issue of food deserts.

Whilst there have been attempts to quantify a pharmacy desert in terms of pharmacies per 100,000 people or per 10 miles, the best description of one is that it is any area where there are not enough pharmacies and chemists relative to the population.

In rural areas, that might mean having to travel several villages over to the nearest town, or for urban areas it could involve having to wait in long queues or facing potential shortages of medications in high demand.

Given that for many medications running out or being forced to ration doses can be exceptionally dangerous, there are thankfully options you can take if you are living in a pharmacy desert for long enough that this might be an issue.

The first is to follow the same types of precautions you would if going on holiday; inform your doctor and see if it would be possible to get enough of your prescription supplied in advance to ensure you have enough for as long as you are there without having access to a pharmacy.

Similarly, take advantage of time spent with a pharmacist, reviewing medications you are taking with them, discussing adverse effects and ensuring that every time you travel somewhere with a pharmacy that you get your prescription ready. You can get your prescription dispensed at any NHS pharmacy, after all.

Delivery is an option as well, with many pharmacies offering an option to request that prescriptions be taken to your door, particularly if you are on recurring prescriptions, have a prescription prepayment certificate or qualify for free prescriptions.

Finally, make sure you have a supply of other basic essential medicines such as NSAID painkillers, a first aid kit and other medicines you expect you will need.