Think Self-Care: Think Pharmacy

Posted on June 7th, 2021

Think Self Care for Life: Think the Pharmacist for expert health advice

Self-Care is an important priority nationally and Riverside Surgery wants to remind you of the health expert on the high street – the community pharmacist.

Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals who are the right people to see if you need clinical advice or over the counter medicines to help safely manage a wide range of minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy troubles and aches and strains.

Pharmacists are trained in managing minor illness and can assess symptoms and recommend the best course of treatment or simply provide reassurance, for instance when a minor illness will get better on its own with a few days’ rest. And if symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, they have the right clinical training to ensure people get the help they need.

Dr Paula Cowan, Chair of NHSWirral CCG said, “Many residents are unaware of the extensive services provided by Pharmacists and their teams and so will attend their GP with minor ailments for management and reassurance. Using a pharmacy for minor health concerns is easily accessible and swift, but will also help free up GP time for more urgent appointments and reduce non-emergency A&E visits.

Pharmacists will help you choose the right treatment for your ailment and can explain the normal duration of symptoms. Under the Think Pharmacy scheme, they can also treat certain conditions which previously would have needed a GP review. They can also support you to stop smoking, manage your weight, and can often provide flu jabs and blood pressure checks. Many pharmacies also have private consultation rooms to ensure your privacy.

If you have a cold it is worth remembering that antibiotics won’t help. Taking antibiotics encourages bacteria to become resistant and may reduce their benefit when you really do need them.”

If you want advice about minor ailments or how to manage your medicines, visit your pharmacist first.