Just one in five people aged 18-40 would visit their local
pharmacy first for expert advice with a minor illness, new NHS
polling has found.
The findings come alongside the launch of a new NHS campaign to
highlight how high-street pharmacies can support patients with
non-urgent health advice for minor conditions including coughs,
aches and colds.
‘Movie-inspired’ Help Us Help You adverts will
run across catch-up TV services, online video, radio and social
media, dramatising minor illnesses and highlighting the vital
clinical advice, support and over-the-counter medicines that
local pharmacists can offer to help ‘nip issues in the bud’
before they potentially worsen.
The ‘Earache strikes back’, ‘sore throat and the lost voice’, and
‘night of the itchy eye’ ads are aimed at reminding people that
their pharmacy is there for them for minor health issues.
This is one of several campaigns aimed at drawing attention to
the importance of accessing the most appropriate NHS service when
patients are in need. NHS chiefs have said it is vital that
people come forward when they have health concerns – whether that
is through their local pharmacy, 111 or by calling 999 or going
to A&E when they need to seek urgent medical help.
Minor health issues include minor aches, cystitis and colds,
with people able to access information on a full range of
conditions online on the NHS website. People can also
use the NHS website to find their local
pharmacy.
NHS England has outlined plans to expand the role of
community pharmacies, from delivering blood pressure checks
to help prevent strokes and for pharmacists to help
detect cancer earlier.
Chief pharmaceutical officer, David Webb, said:
“Community pharmacies are right in the heart of local
communities, and with pharmacists fully trained clinical
professionals, they are the perfect place for anybody suffering
from a minor illness to get expert advice.
“Pharmacies can offer the convenience of turn up on the day
consultations and can help you get any care needed including
over-the-counter-medicines. So whether suffering from a cough,
earache, itchy eye, or any other minor illness, popping into your
local pharmacy is a great way to nip an issue in the bud before
it potentially
worsens.”
Recent Ipsos polling found
high levels of public satisfaction with their local pharmacy,
with around nine in 10 people reporting they received good
advice as well as feeling treated with respect.
Latest data shows in November nearly 100,000 (91,785) people
with minor illnesses received a same day consultation with their
local pharmacist after initially calling NHS 111 or their local
GP Practice, up 39% from 66,039 the same month in 2021.
YouTube star and community pharmacist Abraham Khadadi is
supporting the latest campaigning, noting the
convenience local pharmacies offer and the opportunity to
speak with an experienced healthcare professional.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner Pharmacist and YouTuber,
Abraham said: “I would encourage everyone to make
use of their local pharmacy. They are such a convenient way to
obtain health advice on minor illnesses and you can usually just
walk-in and speak to a pharmacist straight away – you don’t even
need an appointment.
“All pharmacists train for four years at university with an
additional year on a placement - so you can trust us to give you
the advice you need – or signpost you to another health service
if necessary.”
Ends
Background
- The research was conducted by Censuswide, with 2,000
respondents aged 18-40 in the UK between 2 and 14 February
2023. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the
Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR
principles.
- Latest NHS data show that over 900,000 (903,977) were
seen and treated by their local pharmacist last year
(January-November 2022) for minor illness or urgent medicines
following referral to the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation
Service – up by 50% (from 601,941) compared to the year before
(January-November 2021). Data regarding walk-ins is not
available.
