Pick Up and Deliver Volunteers support the NHS by transporting medication, equipment, and mobility aids between sites and directly to individuals' homes.
Pick Up and DeliverPlus Volunteers go even further by entering homes to assist with the safe storage of medication, providing invaluable support to individuals who may struggle to manage on their own.
Why use these services
Quicker patient discharge
By enabling the timely delivery of medications and necessary supplies post-discharge, the service allows hospitals to discharge patients earlier in the day. NHS Trusts utilising the service report a positive change to patient discharge before 17:00 (Calculated from data provided from the Urgent & Emergency Care dashboard).
Alleviate staff workload
By delivering medications and returning equipment, the service alleviates the workload of hospital staff, allowing them to focus more on patient care and urgent tasks.
Resource optimisation
The service has a positive impact on NHSE net zero targets by enabling the collection and redistribution of mobility aids and monitoring equipment etc.
Who should use these services
Virtual ward teams, Emergency Care units, Discharge Units, and anyone that has patients requiring care at home e.g GPs.
All support activities must be completed by 8pm, please don’t request support after this time.
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2024
Pick Up and Deliver
Pick Up and Deliver aims to support the NHS and people who are newly discharged from hospital, awaiting admission to hospital or are being cared for on a virtual ward by transporting medicine or monitoring equipment.
This can either be to the person at home or to another health site. Other referrals could include the movement of equipment to vaccination sites or small items between hospitals, or the collection and return to site of equipment no longer needed, including primary and secondary care.
Delivery is to the doorstep only and volunteers will not be able to enter a person’s home. The patient must be aware that volunteers will be undertaking their delivery and have access to their name and address.
Who is eligible for this support?
This may be:
people who are newly discharged from hospital, are waiting for admission to hospital or are being cared for on a virtual ward
people who are in receipt of ongoing care from a hospital trust
referrals into this role will come from healthcare professionals (no self-referral).
This support is not suitable for:
deliveries of controlled drugs
deliveries of biological samples
clients who need volunteers to enter the home (See Driving Support Plus).
Pick Up and Deliver Plus aims to support the NHS and people who are newly discharged from hospital, are waiting for admission to hospital or are being cared for on a virtual ward by transporting medicine or monitoring equipment. This can either be to the person at home or to another heath site.
Other referrals could include the movement of PPE to vaccination sites or small items between hospitals, or the collection and return to site of equipment no longer needed.
Volunteers will be able to enter the home of the person receiving support, to help with the delivery and home storage of medications and or medical devices for Virtual Wards. Volunteer can also support with returning items. The patient must be aware that volunteers will be undertaking their delivery and have access to their name and address.
