Order of Malta - safely delivering medication in Omagh

The Community Support for Community Pharmacy Scheme was established by Community Development & Health Network (CDHN) to co-ordinate the community and voluntary sector support for community pharmacies across Northern Ireland during COVID-19. 

CDHN worked in partnership with the Health and Social Care Board to develop the pharmacy delivery scheme which encourages Community Pharmacies and community groups to sign up with CDHN. The groups and community pharmacies were then matched and a small amount of funding to cover volunteer costs was provided. The response to the scheme has been fantastic with 250 pharmacies and 120 community groups registered and thousands of prescriptions delivered to date.

Angela McGoldrick, Officer in Charge, Order of Malta signed up to work with two pharmacies in the Omagh area and told us ‘The Order of Malta, Omagh is delighted to assist with this project and our 14 volunteers have found it very rewarding to be able to help during these times we are faced with.  Our youth members are also involved in the scheme and have said how humbling it is to be involved. Many of the clients are self isolating and are delighted to see us and talk for a few minutes while we safely deliver their medication."

Bronagh Devine, Pharmacist from Bradleys, Dromore felt the delivery service from the Order of Malta had been so helpful during this very stressful period.  Bronagh said ‘The Community Support for Community Pharmacy Scheme means that our vulnerable patients are still getting access to their medications safely without having to leave their homes. It has also relieved pressure on us as we had been trying to meet the demand and carry out the deliveries in our own time after work. The service is a definite success.’