You have been given this page to help you understand the homecare medicines service which is available to you for the medicines that you have been prescribed by your hospital clinician.
A homecare medicines service is a service that delivers hospital prescribed medicines directly to your home. This is done by an out-sourced service, contracted by the hospital. The homecare company is called Sciensus Pharma Services limited.
Your hospital team is still fully responsible for the clinical aspects of your treatment. They will keep your GP up to date with any changes to your care.
The service offers you convenience and control over your hospital medicines supply. Delivery of your medicines can be organised around your needs. You won’t need to wait in the hospital pharmacy or travel back to hospital to collect your medicines. Repeat prescriptions can be automatically ordered by your clinician.
You will be seen in clinic and your treatment/dose will be decided on.
- The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team will give you a patient information leaflet on your prescribed medication.
- Your hospital clinical team will also show you how to take your medication using a pump and will happily help you administer the first infuser once delivered (please contact the CNS team to organise).
- The CNS team will arrange registration paperwork and prescription for your homecare company Sciensus.
- Paperwork is then screened by UCLH pharmacy and sent to Sciensus.
- Sciensus will contact you directly to arrange your delivery (ALL deliveries need to be confirmed with you or a nominated next of kin).
- The first delivery of Desferrioxamine takes around 4 weeks. If you have not been contacted within 3 weeks of been started by the hospital, please contact Sciensus.
- Sharps bins and needles will need to be collected from the hospital (CNS team or supportive care).
- Desferrioxamine will be delivered every 2 weeks.
- Sciensus will contact UCLH pharmacy to request a new prescription before you run out of your current supply.
- Unused/expired Desferrioxamine should be returned to Sciensus with the delivery driver or thrown in the bin.
- ALL NEEDLES (USED AND UNUSED) NEED TO BE PLACED IN A SHARPS BIN FOR DISPOSAL.
Deliveries are made by a homecare delivery driver in a van to your home.
The driver will have a proof of identification and deliveries will be made in unmarked vehicle.
You, or someone you know, will always need to sign for your medicines delivery. This ensures your medicines have arrived safely.
Store your infusors safely in the fridge and keep out of reach of children. Ensure they remain sealed in their outer wrapping.
Check the expiry date on new and previously delivered medication and always use products with the shortest expiry date first.
Your medication has been dispensed in accordance with your doctor's instructions.
Please take in accordance with the instructions on the label and enclosed information leaflet.
Sciensus is the company that will deliver your medication
Company opening times
Monday to Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday: 8am – 1pm
If you need to get in contact, please contact the Patient Services team by phone at: 0333 1039 499
Out of hours: If you urgently need medical help or advice outside of our opening hours, and it’s not a life-threatening situation, contact NHS 111, by calling 111 or online at 111.nhs.uk Information can also be accessed on the Sciensus website.
Sciensus also have an app which can be downloaded to schedule your deliveries:
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Email: Uclh.
Telephone: 0203 447 7359
Red Cell Admin team
Email: uclh.
Telephone: 0203 447 7359
Please speak to your doctor and co-ordinator in good time to arrange delivery 4 weeks prior to your holiday and ensure you have enough stock to cover your holiday. Your choice of holiday destination may be restricted, depending on the availability of medical care. Please discuss this further with your clinical team.
Sciensus have a contract with UCLH, which will ensure that they will only utilise your personal data to fulfil their home delivery service obligations.
Your data is held on a secure system and is not shared with any third parties, other than those necessary to deliver our service to you.
Details of local and national support and information services, charities, see below:
United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society (UKTS)
For further information and support please contact you nurse.
UCLH cannot accept responsibility for information provided by other organisations.
Direct line: 0203 4475 874
Services
Page last updated: 15 October 2025
Review due: 31 July 2027