Ask Your Pharmacist Week 2024 kicks off

Ask your pharmacist - Your community pharmacy team is highly skilled and well equipped to provide care for common illnesses

The annual UK-wide public awareness campaign, Ask Your Pharmacist Week, organised by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), has begun today (4 November).

The campaign theme, "Professional and Convenient Healthcare, from Your Local Pharmacy Team", aims to highlight the skills and knowledge of community pharmacists and the wider pharmacy team, and their track record of safely delivering clinical services.

Furthermore, it emphasises that community pharmacists work closely with GPs and the rest of the local healthcare team to make sure patients get the best possible care.

The central message of this year's campaign is: "Your local pharmacy team is highly skilled and well equipped to provide convenient clinical care, including treatment for common illnesses, as part of the wider local NHS team."

Throughout the week, pharmacies across the country will promote their expertise and services, including NHS-supported treatments for common ailments.

Campaign activities include daily ‘Ask Your Pharmacist’ podcasts, pharmacy visits by elected representatives, newspaper and radio coverage and animations running across pharmacy screens.

A recent NPA polling revealed that 36 per cent of people remain unaware of the Pharmacy First service, which allows pharmacies in England to provide NHS treatments for seven common ailments, including ear infections, impetigo, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, infected insect bites, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Additionally, 20 per cent of respondents still believe these conditions could only be treated by a GP, highlighting a need for greater public awareness.

The NPA encourages everyone to share the campaign's #AskYourPharmacist output, including the daily podcasts through their networks.

NPA members, patient groups, and pharmacy stakeholders can access free campaign resources at www.npa.co.uk/ask-your-pharmacist-week-2024 to support the initiative and raise awareness.

Ask Your Pharmacist Week is a joint initiative between the NPA and NHS England to dispel misconceptions around minor ailments and encourage greater use of local pharmacies for medical treatment.