Prescribed Medicines Policy



Glastonbury Festival Events Ltd (GFEL) policy regarding the carriage of prescribed medicines and confiscation at the festival

Glastonbury Festival Events Ltd is committed to maintaining the safety and wellbeing of all persons on site, and is very aware that a proportion of the festival audience have a requirement to bring prescribed medicines onto site. Therefore it is the general policy of Glastonbury Festivals to permit prescription medicines to be brought onto site through pedestrian gates.

To ensure that illicit or potentially dangerous substances are not brought onto site under the guise of legitimate medical need, the following measures are to be enforced.

1. Advance information to customers and crew. If someone needs to bring prescription medicines onto site, they should consider this in advance and follow the steps set out below to assist security personnel to determine the medication is legitimately held.

2. Customers should:

a. Ensure the medicine is in its original container, with the dispensary sticker and issued in the name of the ticket-holder i.e. DON’T peel the label off or carry someone else’s medication
b. Bring the official prescription counterfoil or a letter of explanation from a registered medical practitioner
c. Ensure the quantity carried is the minimal required for duration on site
d. NOT bring non-essential tablets such as vitamin supplements
e. Be prepared to be challenged at the Gate or in the festival but do not seek to conceal medication
f. Contact the Festival in advance if the medication is vital to health and wellbeing to ensure that you remain safe and well
g. Be aware that a pharmacy and prescription service is available onsite

3. Safe Storage. In some instances, safe storage of medication can be arranged through the onsite medical service (including temperature controlled storage). NO storage should be provided at the Gate. Customers should contact help@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk in advance if this service is required.

4. Confiscation. Glastonbury Festival reserves the right to refuse access to patrons carrying substances which cannot be confirmed as being bona fide prescribed medication. In such instances gate staff may require that medicines be surrendered at the gate or returned to a vehicle or similar. Glastonbury Festival will NOT offer a Receipt-and-Collect service.

5. Appeal. At each entry Gate there will be a designated security supervisor who will handle any complaints or appeals regarding the provenance or safety of medications carried by members of the public. This supervisor shall have access to qualified medical and pharmacist advice via Event Control.

6. Pharmacy. A 24-hour GP service, including prescription and pharmacies are available onsite during the festival period. However, unusual medication or that with a short shelf-life is unlikely to be available.

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