NHS England has urged community pharmacies to ensure they are ready to supply medicines and walk-in advice to the thousands of prisoners who are being released early under a scheme launched by Labour to reduce the pressure on overcrowded prisons.

The government’s attempt to free up prison space in England and Wales will see 5,500 people, including serious offenders, released early on September 10 and October 22, 2024, having served 40 per cent of their sentences.

In a letter to integrated care boards, community pharmacy leads, GPs and other stakeholders, NHSE said pharmacies should be on hand to support people released early through Pharmacy First and the contraception service.

“For women being released from prison, the NHS pharmacy contraception service provides an accessible and convenient place to receive advice and support for contraception management,” NHSE said.

“Individuals do not need to be registered with a GP to access this service and pharmacies should only inform the GP practice that individuals have accessed the service with the individual’s consent.”

NHSE said prison medical services will provide 28 days of medicines on discharge to give primary care prescribers and patients time to access the next supply.

“For opioid substitution therapy, prison medical services will have provided a prescription (FP10/FP10MDA) for up to 14 days or a short-term interim supply as per local arrangements,” NHSE said.

“This action will be taken as part of the continuity of substance misuse treatment.”

The electronic prescription service is being rolled out in prisons and NHSE said pharmacies will start to see electronic prescriptions issued by prison healthcare services.

“(Pharmacy) contractors may see an increase in the presentation of non-nominated EPS prescription barcodes and/or FP10MDAs issued on discharge,” NHSE said, adding prescriptions will carry information such as the letters ‘HMP’, prison name and address, prison telephone switchboard number and the prescribing code.

“Community pharmacy teams are reminded that patients presenting these prescriptions are exempt from prescription charges,” NHSE said.