Ask Your Pharmacist Week: use pharmacy services for expert health advice and treatment

A chemist filling a prescription

Local residents are being encouraged to visit a local pharmacy as a first port of call before contacting a GP for minor illnesses and ailments.

This week is Ask Your Pharmacist Week (1 to 8 November), a campaign by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) to remind people of the many services community pharmacists can provide.

‘What’s wrong with my skin’ and ‘why does it take so long to dispense my medication’ are just some of the questions people can ask a local pharmacist for quick, expert advice, without an appointment.

People will be encouraged to make use of pharmacies as their first port of call for self-care. Self-care is incredibly important and can help local NHS services during the busy winter months. A well-stocked medicine cabinet can really make the difference to every household.

Bruce Prentice, Pharmacist at NHS England and NHS Improvement (North West), said: “Pharmacists are clinically trained healthcare professionals who can provide a wide range of medical advice and information about medicine.

“With over 1,600 community pharmacies across the region, medical advice is never too far from home. If you have a minor illness or ailment, need help with a prescription or need advice about healthy living, pop into a pharmacy, you don’t need an appointment.”

As part of the New Medicine Service, community pharmacies can also offer advice to people on new medication for conditions such as type 2 diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure as well as general health checks.

Bruce added: “All pharmacies have private consultation rooms which allow you to discuss your health complaints and medication in confidence.

“You may be referred to a pharmacy by a GP to make sure you are able to speak to a clinically trained professional about your health complaint.”

Community pharmacies are also supporting the Covid-19 vaccination and annual flu vaccination programmes making it more convenient for people to get protected this winter. Ask your local pharmacy about vaccinations.

Find out how a community pharmacy can help you or check your local pharmacy's opening times.