Banbury cycling club members make 56 medical prescription deliveries to people self-isolating

Members of the Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club are part of a new innovative service connecting running and cycling clubs with local pharmacies across the Cherwell District.

Following the government’s advice that people with underlying health conditions should stay at home to protect themselves from Covid-19, chemists in Banbury and Bicester have seen a growing demand for their courier services to transport medication directly to patients’ doors.

To alleviate that pressure, Cherwell District Council has collaborated with Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club, Banbury Harriers Athletics Club and Alchester Running Club, to set up Oxfordshire Supply Runs, a new delivery service using local athletes as the go-between for pharmacies and patients.

Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club has 35 members taking part. They range from all walks of life from retirees,to school teachers, ex-armed forces with deliveries being assigned based on home address, work and childcare arrangements.

Banbury Star Cyclists are working closely with four pharmacies, which include Cox and Robinsons South Bar Peak, Cox and Robinsons Horsefair Banbury Cross, Co-op Middleton Cheney and Peak Pharmacy Orchard Way.

There are two other pharmacies who are part of the scheme but have yet to call on their services.

As of Easter Sunday the club had delivered 56 prescriptions out into the community.

The highest number of deliveries was made on the Thursday before Good Friday when 34 were delivered by a team of 11 volunteers whose combined distance was just over 100 miles with one member riding 23 miles out to Kings Sutton and Charlton. Another member delivered eight prescriptions around Banbury town.

The Easter weekend was predictably much quieter but this week will see an even greater demand for deliveries out to the shielded and other vulnerable members of the community who are practising social distancing.

The cycling club has received positive feedback from the prescription recipients for their medication being delivered in a safe manner direct to their door allowing them to continue isolation.

Paul Dean, president of Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club said: “The Covid-19 pandemic is incredibly concerning, but I have no doubt we can beat it. For us, being involved in Oxfordshire Supply Runs is a win-win.

"Not only does it give us a way to support our community by delivering essential medication, it also allows us to do it on our bikes, doing something we love.”

The scheme has been approved by the Thames Valley and North Oxfordshire Pharmaceuticals Committee and shared to other district councils in Oxfordshire to enable them to set up a similar project.

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