Royal Mail partnering with Pharmacy2U for same-day medication deliveries

Royal Mail is launching same day deliveries for some Pharmacy2U medication and healthcare products, initially via the Chemist Direct brand.

The service, which Royal Mail says has been introduced following a ‘surge in demand during the pandemic’, will initially focus on some postcode areas in Yorkshire.

Royal Mail said that its research has revealed that since the start of the pandemic 4.3 million adults across the UK have ordered medication online to be delivered to their homes for the first time, while one in eight adults (12%) currently have medication regularly delivered in the post and a further 9% have previously had medication delivered through the post.

The main reasons for people getting medication delivered include: for ease and convenience (59%), to avoid making journeys to the pharmacy (37%) and to avoid risk of infection from COVID-19 (24%).

Mark Livingstone, CEO at Pharmacy2U, commented: ‘The Coronavirus pandemic has shifted people’s behaviours drastically and brought forward digital uptake for many. At Pharmacy2U we are doing all we can to remain at the forefront of consumer demand and bringing medicines straight to your front door is part of that. Through this partnership with Royal Mail, we’re hopeful that repeat prescriptions will become even more accessible and it will lead to more people adhering to their doctor’s orders. We look forward to continuing our excellent customer service through this partnership.’

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, added: ‘We’re working with Pharmacy2U to deliver medicines on the same day they are ordered and look forward to significantly expanding this service in the future. The last year has reset many of our expectations for delivery and coupled with the convenience of home delivery, no queues and a reduced risk of infection we think this service is just what the doctor ordered.’