Community Response and Driving Support
What if the person I am supporting has questions about their medication, or how to take it?
Please refer the person to contact the dispensing pharmacy. The contact details should be found on the medication package label or the bag label. If you are a Pick Up and Deliver Volunteer please refer the person to the person name on their discharge letter or any information provided about the virtual ward.
I have been asked to sign for the medication by the pharmacist, can I do that?
Yes, as long as you have consent from the person being supported to collect their medication.
Some medications require signature for collection as you are acting as a person representative, you will therefore be required to sign.
In some instances, the pharmacy team may telephone the person you are supporting to confirm consent to collect. Do not be worried by these additional checks.
What if the medication I collect spills or packaging breaks?
Please telephone the pharmacy or the named contact details on GoodSAM for advice and notify the person you are supporting as soon as possible. The contact details should be found on the medication package label or the bag label.
I have been asked to deliver another person’s medication which I wasn’t tasked with through GoodSAM. Am I ok to do this?
If you are a Community Response Volunteer, the consent to collect medicine is a one to one task between the person on GoodSAM and you as a Volunteer Responder. Therefore any additional must go through GoodSAM.
If you are a Pick Up and Deliver Volunteer you might be asked to take more than one prescription. Please allow time to complete this in your shift and retain the postcodes for your expenses claim. These should be destroyed after your claim has been completed.
The person being supported has asked me to return a hazardous waste bag or bin to the pharmacy. What should I do?
Explain to the person being supported that this is not a permitted activity for Volunteer Responder. As the disposal of hazardous waste is different depending on Local Authority, please advise the person being supported to contact their local council.
This also applies to unused or out of date medicines.
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Page last reviewed: 05 June 2024