Independent pharmacy buying group Edinpharm has partnered with same-day delivery specialist, Gophr, to help community pharmacies maintain continuity of care during periods of peak demand.
The partnership gives Edinpharm members across the UK access to a pharmacy-ready delivery service that supports both scheduled and on-demand requirements.
Pharmacies will be able to draw on Gophr whenever deliveries exceed internal capacity, whether due to staffing pressures, rising prescription volumes or the need for urgent doorstep drops.
The collaboration aims to provide a delivery solution designed for increasing pharmacy workloads and more complex prescriptions, covering everything from temperature-sensitive items to controlled medications. Gophr’s trained couriers and real-time tracking tools help ensure safe, compliant and transparent patient deliveries.
Edinpharm said the agreement reflects Edinpharm’s commitment to practical, trusted solutions that improve patient access, particularly for people who rely on home delivery.
Success of the scheme will be measured by member uptake and day-to-day usage across the network.
Richard Stephenson, Edinpharm MD, said: “Home delivery is a lifeline for many patients, and even more so now as community pharmacies become more vital within the NHS.
“With Gophr, they have a dependable, pharmacy-savvy option for the days when demand runs ahead of capacity, helping pharmacies maintain compliance standards without adding strain to their teams.”
Claire Mullarkey, Gophr national business development manager, said: “Community pharmacies are dealing with more pressure than ever as a result of NHS staff shortages.
“Delivery shouldn’t be another source of stress.
“Pharmacy deliveries come with responsibilities that can’t be glossed over, whether it’s confidentiality at the doorstep or the way medicines are handled in transit.
“Our role is to provide dependable backup whenever pharmacies need extra hands.”
Gophr is a UK-based technology-driven logistics firm specializing in same-day, on-demand, and scheduled deliveries for businesses, from major retailers, including the Co-op and Screwfix, to local shops, offering fast delivery for groceries, parcels, and urgent documents, using a network of couriers with various vehicles and eco-friendly options.
Founded in 1996, Edinburgh-based Edinpharm is a membership-based not-for-profit entity, giving pharmacies across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England the buying power and support of a larger pharmacy group while preserving their independence.
