A new NPA poll reveals that 36% of people were unaware of the Pharmacy First service, which allow pharmacies to treat 7 common minor ailments
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is encouraging individuals to visit their local pharmacy for the treatment of minor ailments to avoid unnecessary days off from work, save the NHS money and improve patient care.
A new NPA poll revealed that 55 per cent of workers missed at least one day of work last year due to coughs, colds, and other minor illnesses.
The survey, which involved over 2,000 patients and was conducted by Research without Barriers, found that 31 per cent of respondents were absent from work for 1-6 days, 15 per cent for a week, 12 per cent for two weeks and 3 per cent for three weeks.
This polling is part of the NPA’s Ask Your Pharmacist Week campaign, which aims to dispel common myths around minor ailments and encourage greater use of local pharmacies for medical treatment.
In England, pharmacies can now provide NHS treatments for a range of common ailments through the Pharmacy First Service, including ear infections, impetigo, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs).
However, 36 per cent of people surveyed were unaware of the Pharmacy First service, with 20 per cent believing such ailments could only be treated by their GP.
Sukhi Basra, pharmacist and board member of the NPA, said: “It is concerning that a large number of people have to miss work for illnesses that could be promptly treated and prevented by their local pharmacist as well as not being aware of the wide range of services offered in their pharmacies.”
As winter approaches, Basra warned of an ‘inevitable’ surge in minor illnesses.
She emphasised that pharmacies are one of the most accessible parts of the health care system, providing high-quality health care on people’s doorsteps.
“Services like NHS Pharmacy First offer same day help for common ailments, saving time for both patients and GPs.
“By debunking myths and making healthcare more accessible, pharmacists are ensuring that people can confidently manage their health this winter and beyond,” she added.
Myths about UTIs, sore throats and other minor ailments busted
The NPA poll also found that a third (32 per cent) of patients believe that all UTIs will resolve on their own.
Thorrun Govind, a pharmacist and TV health expert, addressed this misconception stating, “While some mild UTIs may resolve without treatment, some may require antibiotics to prevent complications such as kidney infections.”
Additionally, 40 per cent of patients believe that the flu vaccine can cause the flu, with 13 per cent saying it definitely could and 27 per cent saying it sometimes could.
The former chair of Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) clarified: “The flu vaccine contains inactivated (killed) viruses or a single protein from the flu virus. Some people might experience mild side effects like a low-grade fever or muscle aches.”
Moreover, 22 per cent of patients believed that all sore throats can be treated by antibiotics, and 11 per cent thought the same for athlete’s foot.
Busting these myths, Thorrun explained: “Most sore throats are caused by viruses, not bacteria, and antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.
“Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection and requires antifungal treatment, not antibiotics which are used to treat bacterial infections.”
Ask Your Pharmacist Week, a joint initiative between the NPA and NHS England, runs from November 4 to November 11.
