Please don’t put off seeking our help
ARE you feeling unwell? Do you need healthcare advice? Please don’t put it off, the NHS, GP practices and community pharmacies are open and here to support you.
Since the start of the pandemic we have seen a worrying downward trend in the number of people seeking care and support.
It is reported that GPs have seen a 25% decrease in patient appointments whilst A&E attendances have fallen by up to 50%.
Patients are telling us that they are staying away because they don’t want to burden the health service and because of fears of catching Covid19.
Our message to you as health professionals concerned about your health is clear: please don’t put off seeking care and advice.
Even minor concerns and ailments can result in serious longterm health problems if you don’t seek help.
A fantastic source for advice and support locally is your community pharmacy team. The primary concern of every pharmacist is your health and they will strive to support your needs.
However, remember you should not visit your community pharmacy if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of Covid-19, even if they are mild. If you develop one of these symptoms, you should follow the self-isolation guidance and apply for a coronavirus test.
The coronavirus online symptom checker (on NHS 111 Wales) can tell you if you need medical help.
AM I SAFE VISITING MY LOCAL PHARMACY?
Community pharmacies have introduced a number of measures to protect patients and staff:
1. Pharmacies are limiting the number of people allowed in at any one time to ensure social distancing. Whilst the resulting queues can be frustrating, be assured that this is for your safety.
2. You will also notice that many pharmacies have installed protective screens and markings to support you to maintain a two-metre area between staff and other service users. Don’t be alarmed, these are measures to keep you and the staff safe.
3. Staff will be wearing face masks to reduce transmission of Covid-19. As there is also growing evidence to support the use of face masks by the public, we encourage everybody to wear face masks when entering a pharmacy. We appreciate that they can be uncomfortable, but any measure to decrease transmission will help to ensure that your pharmacy continues to stay open.
OPENING HOURS
It is also important to become familiar with the opening times of your local pharmacy. Under new arrangements pharmacies can now open a little later and close over lunchtime.
Please be aware that pharmacy teams continue to work during this period, but are closed to the public. This time allows the pharmacy team to prioritise workload and deal with the huge number of queries from the public and GP surgeries.
SERVICES
Community pharmacy teams offer much more than medicine supply.
Services such as the morningafter pill, smoking cessation, minor ailments care and many more are still running.
Some pharmacies have even started offering services for monthly contraceptive pills, water infection and earache.
You can check to see what service your pharmacy is offering on the NHS local services directory online, checking their website or by phoning ahead.
Wherever possible these services are being carried out by telephone, so please ring before presenting at a pharmacy.
If you require any medication you will be asked to collect them directly from the pharmacy or you can ask the pharmacy team to advise you on delivery services.
So, in conclusion, if you are concerned about your health, do not ignore it or put it off. Please continue to use healthcare facilities and professionals. The NHS is open, GPs are open and community pharmacies are open. Your health is our priority.
■ Jonathan Lloyd Jones is policy and engagement lead at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Wales