LFT Supplies - Access for Pharmacy Teams

You will be aware of some disruption in relation to the supply of LFTs via the national portal over the past few weeks.

The latest national information is that over recent days there have been significant improvements regarding the availability of LFTs via the portal. We have been advised that the LFT supply continues to improve at pace and it is anticipated that over the coming week or so a full return to ordering LFTs via the national portal should be possible.

In the meantime, as a very short-term solution over the next 7-10 days, it has been agreed that Pharmacy/Dentistry staff requiring urgent LFT supplies (to enable staff to return to the workplace sooner than would otherwise be the case in the absence of an LFT) should escalate requests to the regional testing cell. This is not intended for individual staff requests as such it would be for requests to be submitted on behalf of the pharmacy/dental practice.

Urgent requests should be emailed to: [email protected] in the first instance. A regional colleague will immediately email the enquirer a brief template to complete to capture specific urgent requirements in relation to the LFT stock required. Each request will initially be assessed by the regional team who will work with local ICS/Dental/Pharmacy leads to try to source the LFT supplies through alternative routes in the system.

It is important to highlight that requests should only be submitted where all other usual routes for obtaining LFTs have been exhausted and the release of the contingency LFTs will directly impact a member of staff's early return to the workplace.

Thank you for your cooperation and support with this interim arrangement.

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