Boots has increased the number of drivers delivering prescriptions to vulnerable people across the UK, hiring more than 500 additional drivers – as well as introducing prescription delivery in another 40 stores across the UK.

The new recruits will join Boots Pharmacy Delivery and Collection team, who continue to help local communities during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic by delivering essential prescription medicines to those who are self-isolating or cannot get to their local pharmacy can have the medicines they need delivered to their door. 

Four weeks ago, Boots delivered an average of 90,000 prescriptions a week, increasing to an estimated 150,000 in the last week. To support the existing PDC network, over 400 new vehicles have now been added to the fleet.

Over the last 6 months, Boots has recruited on average one PDC driver per day but throughout March, they recruited on average 80 PDC drivers each day.

Many of these workers have lost their jobs or are unable to work normally due to COVID-19.

With the help of EDF, who have kindly donated some of their drivers and vans to help support the Boots PDC delivery drivers, Boots is helping support the NHS and ensuring communities have access to pharmacy services and prescription deliveries for vulnerable customers during this challenging time.

Nathan Clements, HR Director, Boots UK and ROI, comments: “As an essential public service, Boots has a special role and duty to support the NHS in any way we can. I’d like to thank all our colleagues, particularly those who have recently joined us - not only as drivers, but also in our warehouses and pharmacies, and our partners, who are stepping forward onto the front line to help care for patients across the UK.”

Boots has streamlined its recruitment process to hire essential workers as fast as possible. It has reduced the time taken between interviews and contract offers being sent to just two hours in some cases, with new employees able to start jobs the very next day.

Watch this ‘day in the life’ video with John Alexander, one of the PDC delivery drivers, and Eddie Storr, Head of Supply Chain Pharmacy, to see how key workers at Boots are keeping the nation healthy.