Get the facts on what your pharmacy can do for you

HUDDERSFIELD people have been prescribed a visit to the pharmacy – to find out the range of services available.

With GP surgeries under increasing pressure the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is highlighting the healthcare expertise available at local pharmacies.

It comes after a survey conducted for Ask Your Pharmacist Week showed that while many people embrace the public health role of pharmacies, some topics are seen by the public as “off limits”.

Among its findings, it showed that 57% of people understand that pharmacies offer health promoting services like blood pressure checks, flu jabs and help to give up smoking, while 43% understand that they can ask their pharmacist about reducing heart attack or stroke risks.

But only 33% think it is OK to ask in a pharmacy about reducing cancer risks and just 12% of people know that most pharmacies have consultation rooms where they can talk to the pharmacist without being overheard.

Pharmacist James Wood, NPA board member for the Yorkshire region, said: “Most people know that pharmacists are experts on medicine, but many don’t know about the other services we can provide.

“We can treat common ailments, give advice on maintaining and improving your health and offer a range of NHS services without the need for an appointment.”

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