People are being encouraged to see their local pharmacy and to use their health experts on the high street this winter for advice and help on minor illnesses.
This is the message behind Ask Your Pharmacist Week 2017 from 6 – 13 November, a health awareness week that happens each year.
Pharmacists are highly qualified health care professionals, training for five years to become experts in medicines and give health and wellbeing advice.
Modern pharmacists can offer quick, confidential advice on a range of common illnesses. You can always talk to your pharmacist in complete confidence, even about the most personal symptoms – either in person or over the phone, and if you’d like a bit of privacy, most pharmacies also have a private consultation area where you can talk without being overheard by anyone.
They are often open during evenings and at weekends when other health service may be closed and are easy to get to with many in rural areas, towns and supermarkets and an appointment is not necessary.
Dr Kieran Murphy, Medical Director for NHS England in Cheshire and Merseyside said: “Your local pharmacy can help you with more than you might think. Pharmacists offer expert, confidential advice and treatment for many minor health problems.
“It’s been highly publicised that antibiotics don’t work on common coughs and colds but remedies to help ease the symptoms are available at all pharmacies. If you’re not sure what to take, they can help you, particularly if you’re already on medication.”
Superintendent Pharmacist, Timothy Dadswell from Aigburth Pharmacy on Jericho Lane in South Liverpool said, “Ask Your Pharmacist Week 2017 is all about making the public more aware of what healthcare advice and support is available to them at their local pharmacy, because it is more than most people are aware of.
“You don’t always need to see your doctor to get treatment for everyday health problems. Pharmacists can offer lots of advice on the best medicines and treatments to use for a wide range of minor illnesses and ailments, and can also give advice about how to use different medicines and highlight any possible side effects.
“If you have a long-term health condition, your pharmacist can also help you to manage your medicines, and they will also be able to assess the symptoms and advise if a patient needs to see another health professional.
“We can also offer a range of different health checks such as blood pressure monitoring on the spot. Incredibly, almost a third of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it. But a simple blood pressure check at a local pharmacy can provide you with more knowledge of the condition, as well as lots of useful health and lifestyle advice about what you can do to help manage it and stay well.”
Lee Williams, The Prescription Service, Knutsford said, “Not only is it quick and convenient to get advice from your local pharmacy, with no need for arranging an appointment, it can also help free up other busy NHS services such as hospital A&E departments for those who really need them in an emergency.
“Many pharmacies are conveniently open from early until late and at weekends too, which can be very useful if you or a family member is suddenly feeling unwell and you need to get some health advice when your GP surgery is closed.”
Other little known about services which local pharmacists can provide delivery of medicines to your front door if you are too unwell to leave home, or aren’t able to pick them up in person.
For information on how to find a pharmacists closest to you visit www.nhs.uk
