Help with shopping and prescriptions

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    There are supported shopping services in Newcastle that can help you buy food and essentials items.

    Supported shopping schemes

    Community Transport run a fortnightly Hop to the shops in Newcastle. It is a minibus service for older people who struggle to get to the supermarket using public transport. Minibuses pick you up and drop you off at home. There are pick up points from various sheltered housing locations around Newcastle. Each journey costs £1.50. A return journey costs £3. If you need a carer to accompany you on the trip, they travel for free.

    Search Newcastle run a weekly Buy and Bite service for older people in the West of Newcastle. For a small charge they pick you up at home and take you to the local supermarket. They help you to get your shopping and have lunch together in the supermarket café. Then they take you back home. You can get your shopping in and meet new friends over a meal. On Mondays they go to West Denton Morrisons. On Wednesdays they go to Cowgate Morrisons. The minibus begins picking up at 10.30 am.

    Search Newcastle run the Search@Home Service for older people living in the West End of Newcastle. They can help with cleaning, shopping, laundry and to attend appointments.

    The Grange Centre provide and outreach service for help at home with housework, shopping and befriending.  They can also help you to attend hospital appointments and take part in community activities.

    Gosforth and Jesmond Community Minibus has a 12 seater minibus for hire by local groups. They also arrange regular monthly shopping and library trips, trips to the coast or countryside.

    Help when returning from hospital

    Age UK Gateshead can help people with shopping when returning from hospital.

    Home from hospital volunteers can help you with shopping when you are discharged from hospital.

    Shop mobility

    Newcastle Shopmobility provides battery-powered scooters and wheelchairs for people with mobility issues. This gives you freedom and independence to travel around the city centre; to shop or to access the attractions that are available in Newcastle, including Eldon Square, Eldon Gardens, part of Northumberland Street and the Grainger Market. To use the service you need to register as a member.

    Slow Shopping

    Slow Shopping provides a time each week when stores or supermarkets offer an enhanced service to customers who may need a bit more time or support to do their shopping. This may be useful to people with dementia, older people and people with learning disabilities and autism. There are chairs if you need them, as well as a quieter and calmer shopping experience.

    • Sainsbury’s in Gosforth and Tesco at Kingston Park offer slow shopping on Tuesday afternoons.
    • Newcastle Building Society in Gosforth runs a slower service on Tuesday mornings.

    Food and grocery home delivery services

    You can buy almost anything online without having to leave your home. It’s often cheaper to buy online but there may be a delivery charge.

    Meals at home service can provide cooked or frozen meals delivered to your door.

    Find me a Milkman search by postcode to find your local milk delivery service. They may be able to deliver fruit juice, eggs and butter too.

    Grainger Market Delivered offer fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cheese, baked goods and cupboard staples delivered to your door at affordable prices. Order online before 4pm for next day delivery.

    Morrisons Doorstep Delivery Service is available to order essential food items by phone and have them delivered to your home. You can choose from 47 items to have delivered. Call 0345 611 6111 and select option 5.

    Supermarket home delivery or click and collect

    All big supermarkets have online shopping. When you get your food shopping delivered many supermarkets will carry your food shopping into your home for you if you are unable to lift it. The cost for home delivery is different depending on the time and day you choose.  Shop around to get the best deal. You can buy a delivery saver plan which can save you money if you use it every week.

    • Asda
    • Coop food can be delivered within 2 hours. Delivery from 99p. £15 minimum spend. Free click and collect
    • Iceland shop in store and get your food delivered for free when you spend over £25. 10% discount for over 60s in store on Tuesdays. Free next day delivery for online orders.
    • Morrisons minimum spend of £25 for home delivery and Click and Collect. Delivery from £1.50. Saver subscription available
    • Sainsburys delivery costs start at £1. Click and Collect is free Sunday to Wednesday with no minimum spend.
    • Tesco minimum spend of £50 for home delivery. It costs between £2 to £7. Click and Collect costs from £0 to £2. Saver subscription available

    Staying safe online

    All good online retailers have security measures to protect you from fraud.

    ‘How to pay for things online‘ is a short video from BBC WebWise which you might find helpful.

    Take away and food delivery services

    When you need food delivered quickly there are a huge range of take away services available locally. Take Away delivery services now also offer groceries which can be delivered in less than 30 minutes:

    Order prescriptions and have them delivered free

    Many local and high street pharmacies offer in store collection or home delivery of repeat prescriptions such as: Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug.

    To arrange home delivery you need to nominate a local pharmacy to receive your prescription from your GP. You can do this in person in the pharmacy or at your GP. Or you can arrange this online using the NHS App or one of the websites that your GP surgery uses such as Patient Access. You can find out which website to use from your GP’s website or receptionist. You’ll need to register with the NHS app or chosen website to create an account.

    Once registered you can nominate the pharmacy that you want to use to order your repeat prescriptions.

    Repeat prescription

    You can do this online or some GP surgeries have a repeat prescription telephone line or postbox at the entrance. You may be able to request your prescription from your pharmacy.

    When making a request online it goes directly to your chosen pharmacy, where you can either collect your prescription or arrange a delivery date.

    You can speak to your pharmacy directly to find out more about their prescription ordering and delivery service.

    Read more on NHS.uk

    Online prescription ordering and delivery by post

    You can register online with pharmacies who can arrange your repeat prescriptions to be delivered by post. Visit their website for more details:

    Help to plan a trip to Newcastle City Centre

    How Busy Is Toon ?  gives you information to help understand how busy the buses, roads and city centre is. So you feel safe and prepared if planning to visit Newcastle city centre. Visit the website to see:

    • Street images of: Northumberland Street, Grey Street, Barrack Road and Blackett Street, updated every 5 minutes
    • Images of key roads into the city, updated every 15 minutes
    • A real-time map showing the location of every bus operating across Newcastle, searchable by route number
    • Car park spaces available
    • Up-to-date traffic and travel information
    • Information on Electric vehicle (EV) charging locations
    • Walking and cycling routes to help you plan your journey
    • Up-to-date coronavirus rules and safety guidance

    Cost of living help and support from Newcastle City Council

    Newcastle City Council’s Cost of Living website has information about where to get help and support on a range of issues. This includes with:

    • Benefits, debt, money and energy advice
    • Housing support
    •  Wellbeing Hubs – a directory of places offer support. This includes community centres and libraries where people can go to stay warm while accessing free wi-fi, help and advice, learning new skills and taking part in activities such as cookery classes. You can also register your service as a Hub here.
    • Help with school and learning costs, free childcare
    • Council tax discounts and exemptions
    • Crisis support and emergency funds

    You can contact the Cost of Living Helpline at Newcastle City Council for help and support. You can complete their online form to ask for help or call the free helpline. They can signpost you to local help and support including:

    • emergency food parcels
    •  wellbeing hubs: warm spaces in the local community where you can spend time and enjoy facilities such as Wi-Fi, hot drinks or food.
    • help to mange your electricity or gas payments

    Other help

    Organisations working with older people aged over 50 can get support from GoodGym volunteers with practical household tasks. They can send background-checked volunteers to run out to the older person’s house and help with household and garden tasks.

    • foodbank and prescription deliveries
    • gardening (for safety, access, or significant impact on health or wellbeing)
    • Food shopping,
    • Tasks to facilitate hospital discharge
    • Light bulb/smoke alarm battery changing
    • Face to face welfare checks
    • One-off dog walking
    • Furniture assembly, hanging curtains etc

    Last updated: February 13, 2024