What we have done already:

1. We updated our company Health and Safety Policy – We consulted our specialist health and safety consultancy, and added a pandemic section within our operational arrangements. These arrangements form the backbone of our safe systems of works. In addition to the policy expansion, we updated our Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations section.

2. Risk assessed our business specific to the hazard of COVID-19. This means we were able to highlight areas of risk within our business and operations specific to COVID-19. Having highlighted the risks were able to implement appropriate control measures, to protect our team and anyone who may be affected by our activities. This risk assessment will be reviewed;

• Periodically (under constant review during pandemic scenarios).
• If an employee contracts COVID-19 or similar virus.
• A change in relevant legislation.
• A change in government guidance or local risk level.
• Prior to any works which may bring increased risk of transmission.

3. We now consider COVID-19 as a specific hazard in all future risk assessments.

4. We aligned our business with government guidance and implemented management monitoring systems (this includes guidance from the LRF (Local Resilience Forum)). These systems ensure our business remains safe, currently and in the future. This continuous monitoring allows us to react to the dynamic scenarios’ pandemics create. Ensuring we always remain compliant with legislation and provide appropriate protection for our team and anyone who may be affected by our activities.

5. We have trained our staff to ensure they fully understand and accept our new policies and safe systems of works.

6. We have updated our quoting and scheduling systems, to reasonably ensure our activities do not contribute to the spread of COVID-19 and viruses alike. This includes access arrangements and the return of keys.

7. We have installed sanitiser and face masks in all our company vehicles.

8. We have implemented new vehicle and tool sanitisation procedures.

9. We have made our communication channels more robust, to ensure any of our clients site specific requirements/procedures are followed during works.

10. We have prepared documents and posters to inform our commercial clients, domestic customers and site visitors of our safe working systems.

11. We have implemented relevant health monitoring for our staff, to ensure any symptoms are picked up quickly and action taken to reduce the risk of transmission.

12. We have refreshed our PPE (personal protection equipment) stock.

In addition to the above, please notify us if anyone on site is at an elevated risk level from Covid-19. People at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) from coronavirus include people who:

• Have had an organ transplant.
• Are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy.
• Are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer.
• Are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors).Have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma).
• Have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine.
• Have been told by a doctor they you have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD).
• Have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell).
• Are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids).
• Have a serious heart condition and are pregnant.

People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable) from coronavirus include people who:

• Are 70 or older.
• Are pregnant.
• Have a lung condition that's not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis).
• Have heart disease (such as heart failure).
• Have diabetes.
• Have chronic kidney disease.
• Have liver disease (such as hepatitis).
• Have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy).
• Have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections.
• Are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids).
• Are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above).

Please note, any health information communicated will be treated as strictly confidential by Homecare pharmacy services Ltd.

In the future, we will review these elements periodically and as required, to ensure we continue to work in partnership with or valued customers.
As a result of COVID-19, we have implemented significant changes within our business. Should you require any further information on our COVID-19 policies, please contact Jason Baskind @ jason@hcpharmacy.co.uk.

We would like to say thank you to anyone and everyone who are key workers and continue working through pandemic scenarios. Thank you all for your support and consideration, from Jason and the team at Homecare pharmacy services ltd.