Community Pharmacy is your Healthcare Team on the High Street. Pharmacists are the most accessible and highly qualified source of information for the safe use of medicines.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Unfortunately during the pandemic, your local Pharmacy services will differ significantly to what you usually expect. Please observe social distancing when accessing the pharmacy and DO NOT come into the pharmacy if you are suffering from a new continuous cough and/or high temperature, or if you are in close contact with someone who has Covid-19 or is displaying the symptoms (cough and/or high temperature). Please stay at home and ring your Pharmacist for advice and to access your medicines. Arrangements are in place to ensure that anyone unable to attend the pharmacy or has been advised to self-isolate or shield, will receive their medicines and other essential items.
If you are unsure if you should stay at home or if you have questions about your health, please contact your GP by telephone.
ADVICE
Your Local Pharmacy can offer much more than simply dispensing your prescription medicines. Where else can you simply “pop in” and speak to a healthcare professional?
Your Local Pharmacist can offer advice on the medications that you are already taking - to ensure that you are getting maximum benefit. Speak to your pharmacist about new medicines too… there are no “silly questions”.
So what about non-prescription medicines? The Pharmacist is the most highly trained professional on medicines, so who better to ask? Your Local Pharmacy can provide many over the counter remedies for the entire family. From coughs and colds to scrapes and injuries - your Local Pharmacy Team can advise how best to treat or if you should see another healthcare professional.
Community Pharmacy supports “Self Care” and can offer advice on treating minor ailments through to long term conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
Your Local Healthcare Team supports carers too - speak in confidence to your pharmacist… from ensuring medicines compliance in those that you care for, through to advice and support for you as a carer.
SERVICES
Your Local Pharmacy Team offers a number of services to support the health and well-being of you and your family.
Pharmacy First - This service is free of charge and many pharmacies have a private consultation area where you can discuss symptoms. Find out more here: https://www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk/services/pharmacy-first/ The latest Pharmacy First service launched is Emergency Hormonal Contraception (Morning After Pill).
Medication Review - If you have questions about your medication and and how you take it, please speak to your pharmacist who will be happy to spend some time with you, to ensure that you are getting the best out of your medication.
Health + Pharmacy - A growing number of pharmacies in Northern Ireland are becoming Health+ Pharmacies. A Health Champion in the pharmacy will offer information and advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Living Well - Community pharmacies provide advice and information on a health improvement theme every two months. Find out more here: https://www.communitypharmacyni.co.uk/services/living-well/
Prescription Collection & Delivery - Generally pharmacies collect your prescription from your Doctor’s Surgery and have it ready for collection - please give pharamcies sufficient time to ensure that the prescription is assessed and dispensed, bearing in mind that some medicines may have to be ordered in. Many pharmacies also offer a home delivery service for a small charge.
Stop Smoking Service - The majority of community pharmacies participate in the NHS Stop Smoking Service which offers a 12 week programme of support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy. Quit attempts that involve help from a healthcare professional such as a Pharmacist are much more likely to be successful.
Weight Management - Community Pharmacy is ideally placed to provide you with dietary and lifestyle advice, which can help you make small changes, that can have a big impact on your health and well-being.
Compliance Support – Many pharmacies offer a service for people who are having difficulty complying with their medication regime and need some help. Ask your pharmacist for advice on what support Your Local Pharmacy team can provide. NB Weekly trays can only be provided with a referral from a healthcare professional.
Nursing & Residential Home - Some Community Pharmacy Teams offer services, tailored to assist nursing home staff, in making the best use of their valuable time.
Domiciliary Oxygen - Ask your Local Pharmacy Team for support and advice for patients who need oxygen at home.
Disposal of Unwanted Medicines - You can take any unused medicines to your Local Pharmacy Team who will dispose of them safely.
Signposting - If your Local Pharmacy Team feels you could benefit from the assistance of other healthcare professionals or organisations, they can provide you with contact details.
Health Checks - Your Local Healthcare Team may offer a variety of other services such as:
- Blood Pressure Testing and lifestyle advice
- Cholesterol Testing and advice on how to reduce your cholesterol level
- Blood Glucose Testing to see if you are at risk of diabetes
- Chlamydia Screening which can be carried out in the privacy of your own home
- Allergy Screening and advice on how best to reduce the symptoms
Vaccinations - Pharmacies are at the fore-front of providing vaccinations for Flu and Covid-19 to eligible groups. Many pharmacies also offer private services for travel vaccinations.
Pharmacy Collect - If you need a Lateral Flow Test kit you can collect one from your community pharmacy. They are provided free of charge until end of July 2022, following that they may be available to purchase.
The Pharmacy Profession believes that the public needs community pharmacy in order to ensure that maximum benefits are obtained from medication. In your community, the local pharmacist is an easily accessible and highly qualified source of information for the safe use of medicines.
Research has indicated that approx. 123,000 adults, both healthy and sick, visit Community Pharmacies in Northern Ireland every day. This equates to 9% of the NI adult population. Customers perceive the Pharmacist as trustworthy and open to questioning on various products or ailments.