People encouraged to rely on local pharmacy to take strain off NHS over COVID second wave

By Q Radio News

People are being encouraged to rely on their local pharmacy in order to help take pressure off the NHS this winter. 

Community Pharmacy NI are marking ‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week 2020’ by encouraging the public to get to know their local pharmacists and pharmacies better, including the new and innovative services provided.

‘Ask Your Pharmacist Week’ is an initiative by the National Pharmacy Association to highlight the important role of community pharmacies across the UK.

This year, the theme is ‘Community Pharmacy within the Health Service’ with a focus on the new and emerging services community pharmacies in Northern Ireland are offering patients, and how they stepped-up to provide accessible, local healthcare from the very beginning of the pandemic.

Every day, about 123,000 people visit a pharmacy in Northern Ireland. This number increased by 40% during the first wave of Covid-19. Statistics show 84% of adults visit a pharmacy at least once a year. 96% of the population can get to their local pharmacy within 20 minutes.

The Northern Ireland public are three times more likely to attend their local pharmacy and their GP.

Speaking to Q Radio, Community Pharmacy NI Chief Executive Gerard Greene is encouraging everyone to Ask Your Pharmacist.

Gerard Greene

“Ask Your Pharmacist Week is a welcome opportunity for us all to take a step back and look at our health service and the hugely important role that is played on the ground by local community pharmacies, as part of our Health and Social Care family.

“This year we have seen the remarkable dedication and resilience of community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland who have stepped up as leaders within health and social care.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic, our network came up with innovative ways to remain open and carry on with the high standard of care and support they offer in their local areas.

“A visit to a community pharmacy gives patients the opportunity to have a face-to-face consultation with a health professional at a time and location close to home, without the need for an appointment. This has proved to be vital in the midst of this pandemic.

“With many patients at home self-isolating or shielding, they can still have a face-to-face discussion with their pharmacist via a video call. We ask the public to speak to your local pharmacy for more details.

“As we approach the winter months, we expect to see another surge in patient numbers due to flu season and COVID, but community pharmacy remains open and ready to support our patients throughout this period and we are putting plans in place to deal with increased demand. Community Pharmacy will be here for everyone this winter.”