COVID-19: Tayside teams providing medication across the nation

COVID-19: Tayside teams providing medication across the nation

THURSDAY, 16 APRIL, 2020

Immediate release: photos attached. Photo 1: the pharmaceutical team. Photo 2: Pharmacy Technician Amy Barclay and Assistant Technical Officer Alina Sandu

COVID-19: Tayside teams providing medication across the nation

The Ninewells-based NHS Scotland Pharmaceutical ‘Specials’ Service (PSS) and Tayside Pharmaceuticals have been leading the production of specialist medicines across Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The teams at Ninewells have been providing of a range of medicines such as antibiotics, analgesics, steroids and inhalers for COVID-19 Assessment Centres across all Health Boards in Scotland.

They have supplied over 35,000 packs of medicines in the last month and have a further 125,000 packs available for distribution. To date this month, the output of these pre-labelled medicines has been three times the usual monthly average.

PSS is now concentrating on making a similar range of products for paediatric patients and a range of oral medicines for palliative care in home settings.

In addition, Tayside Pharmaceuticals has also manufactured a saccharin solution that is used for testing the fit of PPE face masks and has supplied thousands of bottles to Health Boards across Scotland and Trusts in England and Wales.

As well as these COVID-19 related activities, the teams have continued to produce all the medicines for hospital and community pharmacies across the UK and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Dr Baxter Millar, Head of NHS Scotland Pharmaceutical ‘Specials’ Service, said, “None of this work could have been achieved without the full support of all of our staff. The teams have worked exceptionally long hours and over weekends to significantly increase production. I could not have asked for a more committed response and I am immensely proud of the teams.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138

16 April 2020