The response to the cash flow challenge created by the explosion of prescribing in March has been handled differently across the UK.

With pharmacists commonly reporting dispensing volumes of 150-200 per cent compared to a normal March - or like “Christmas and Easter at once,” as several have described the peak weeks we are currently seeing - the support provided to date by governments across the UK has varied in terms of how much is offered and the level of detail regarding how advances must be repaid. 

In England, PSNC has said that the April cash injection represents around 26 per cent more cash than a regular month, with and an additional 13 per cent to come on top of this in May. Per pharmacy, this is lower than the other parts of the UK; in Scotland, the payment at the end of April will be 300 per cent of a regular month and is going to be based on December payments, which are normally the highest of the year owing to the Christmas/New Year holidays.

Only Wales has set out a timetable for repayment of what are, in effect, loans. The £50m advance payment in Wales is due to be repaid in 10 instalments, beginning in June.   

Easter Bank Holiday opening is just the latest issue for which contractors will be looking for answers. With GP organisations already committing across the UK to be “open” along the current lines on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, community pharmacy teams will be hoping that the normal 'easter rush' will be less intense this year as many patients may have already had enough of their medicines dispensed to cover this period.

Negotiations are continuing in all four countries on various matters connected to the Covid-19 pandemic. Each of the four home nations' responses to key Covid-19 pharmacy issues are set out below.