Apart from dispensing medicines, pharmacist can do a lot more to help
improve your health and wellbeing. It’s “Ask Your Pharmacist Week”, let’s
discuss how pharmacists help people
Local pharmacies often provide a wide range of health services that we
may not be aware of. For instance, pharmacists offer access to quitting
smoking, alcohol support services and sexual health, and more importantly, they
promote health and wellbeing. These kinds of services might save your time to
visit a GP and help you follow healthy lifestyle.
In England, many of us are just a few yards away from a community
pharmacy, which means we have a quick and easy access to a practicing
pharmacist who can help us with common health issues. Pharmacists are expert in
proper and safe use of medications. They can practise only after being registered
with the General Pharmaceutical Council. A complete pharmacy is there to look
after yourself, your medicinal needs and healthier lifestyle.
You do not need an appointment; you just need to pop in. They can help
you with mild and common health issues and their treatment with
over-the-counter medicines. Plus, you need not require visiting a GP. Pharmacists
are trained healthcare experts, who can advise you on how to use
over-the-counter and prescription medicines safely and effectively. Moreover,
most of the pharmacies are open until late evening, which can help you when you
feel sick and the local medical practitioner is unavailable.
If you are regularly prescribed medications for chronic health issues,
your pharmacist can provide repeat dispensing services; this can decrease the
frequency of visiting a GP. Usually, for chronic diseases, you get a medical
prescription from your doctor up to a year and then you get them through your
pharmacist without visiting your doctor every time.
In addition, your pharmacist can help you with special discussion on
your treatment through “medicines use review”. If you experience any side
effect, they can offer medical advice or ask you to see your doctor in serious
cases.
Your pharmacist can help with common conditions and mild or minor
injuries, such as common colds, cough, cystitis, aches and pain, skin rashes and
small cuts or wounds. If you have any of these health issues, your pharmacist
can provide you advices and medications. They may also help you explain how to
take the medicines and how to use contraceptive pills and pregnancy kits.
In short, pharmacists help people to look after themselves and their
families without visiting a GP all the time. There is always much more on offer
not only at local pharmacy but also at online pharmacy than just medicines.
