Men’s Health Week – How can my pharmacist help me?

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This year’s Men’s Health Week focuses on pharmacy. We take a look at some of the ways a pharmacist can help if you are having trouble making it to your GP.

Many things can clash with trying to fit a GP appointment into a busy day, and that’s if you can get one in reasonable time. Thankfully, for smaller issues – you can always try asking for advice at a pharmacy. For a number of minor complaints, they can also offer treatment on top of all the regular medications and products which are usually stocked.

We look into some of the services and treatments your pharmacist can offer in this article.

Men's Health Week

Sale of over the counter (OTC) and P medicines

Larger pharmacies generally offer a wide range of health products, from vitamins, supplements and skin creams, to painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.

Over the counter (OTC) medicines are for minor everyday issues, whereas pharmacy (P) medicines must be sold while a pharmacist is on the premises. This includes treatments that may clash with prescribed medications, mask more significant symptoms, be considered potentially addictive, or are only licenced for short-term use.

Offering healthcare advice

Your pharmacist can offer helpful advice on topics such as minor ailments, medication interactions and how best to administer certain treatment. Pharmacies are required by law to have a consultation room on the premises, so you can ask to speak to them in more privacy if preferred.

‘Pharmacy First’ treatments

Your pharmacist can also offer treatments for common conditions, such as the ones listed here:

Impetigo
Infected insect bites
Earache
Sore throat
Sinusitis
Shingles

This may alleviate the need for you to book a doctor’s appointment at all. For any female readers, they can also provide the emergency contraceptive pill, as well as medication for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Additional pharmacy healthcare services

Besides general advice and dispensing medication for minor ailments, you can also receive support and diagnostic services from your pharmacist. These include:

Chlamydia screening and treatment
Cholesterol and blood sugar testing
Needle and syringe exchange
Smoking cessation
Weight management

What if my healthcare issue isn’t listed here?

Don’t be afraid to ask. Pharmacists dispense many kinds of medication and deal with lots of enquiries on a daily basis. At the very least, they may be able to tell you whether a trip to the GP would be advisable. They may also be able to out your mind at ease until you can get an appointment.

What should I do if I think my ailment is more urgent?

In the event of something urgent or even a healthcare emergency, don’t forget about NHS 111 and the emergency services via 999. If you don’t feel like it’s bad enough to warrant a trip to A&E, calling 111 will allow an NHS adviser to assess your symptoms over the phone to see whether or not you need an ambulance. Don’t attend A&E as a first step unless you believe it is absolutely necessary.

If your emergency is related to mental health and you feel like you may be a danger to yourself or others, call 999 immediately.