Before booking, check the medicine’s labelled temperature requirements and tell the courier what they are. “Ambient” is not one temperature rule for every product. NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) guidance describes 15–25°C as an ideal controlled range for ambient medicines storage, while noting that manufacturers specify different ranges for individual products. Check the product label and your organisation’s procedures.

What should you provide when booking?

Tell Roadrunners the collection and delivery points, named contacts, deadline, number of packages and required temperature range. Explain who is providing suitable transit packaging and any temperature monitoring your procedures require. If the consignment contains refrigerated medicines, say so explicitly: it needs a separate assessment.

Roadrunners can discuss a direct, dedicated same-day journey across the UK mainland. The sender’s packaging and the agreed transport arrangements must be suitable for the product; a quick journey alone does not prove that its temperature requirements have been met.

Plan the handover at both ends

Keep the medicines in their required conditions until collection. Label the package with its destination and storage instructions, and make sure the receiving team is ready to take it promptly into suitable storage. SPS advises considering temperature throughout the transfer: before collection, in the vehicle and at delivery. Read its transport guidance.

If a temperature limit may have been exceeded, report the facts promptly to the responsible pharmacy or quality team. They should assess the affected stock under their procedures; the courier cannot decide whether it remains suitable for use. SPS guidance on excursions.

Need an urgent transfer? Call Roadrunners on 0800 970 1155 and describe the medicines and their transport requirements before confirming the booking.

Sending Ambient Medicines by Same-Day Courier

What should you provide when booking?

Plan the handover at both ends