Omicron Variant – What Does This Mean For The Network?

Published: 15/12/21

This information is correct as of publishing on 13/12/21

With the announcement today from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon we are currently looking at several areas to ensure that the community pharmacy workforce can continue to provide their essential services

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We will continue to bring updates on the following as and when we have them.

• Medicine Supply

• Implications on Workforce

• Maintaining Patient Care

• NHS Pharmacy First Scotland

• LFD Testing Kit Supply

• Self Isolation for Community Pharmacy Teams

• PPE Supply

We will be back next week with further updates. In the meantime we advise the network to continue to follow the Health Protection Scotland guidance here.

It won’t have escaped you that there is a new COVID variant of concern emerging in Scotland. Whilst we don’t know much about the Omicron variant yet, what we do know is that the tried and tested infection control measures you have all been used to living and working will be just as effective as they have been throughout the pandemic.

It can be easy to become a little more relaxed with some of these practices (particularly since the vaccination programme started!), so now may be a good time to do a quick review of your processes and procedures and stock up on PPE and hand gel as we head into a bit of unknown territory. This will set you and your teams up for success through the winter period.

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