Pharmacy

A pharmacist can offer quite a wide range of health services for free or at a low cost, to save you the hassle of a trip to the doctor for things that pharmacists are perfectly well trained to do. A pharmacist can also:

• Provide advice on medicines
• Provide healthcare advice like treating mild coughs and colds, post-natal care, and pain management. They can also help you manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
• Advice on wound care like helping you manage minor injuries and show you how to apply dressings and compression garments.
• Health checks and risk assessments like getting your blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar tests (for diabetes) from a pharmacy. You should share the results with your GP (doctor) promptly. Your GP (doctor) is best placed to help you understand what they mean and to manage your ongoing health.
• Advice about children and babies like recommending which products may help you treat common baby conditions such as nappy rash, eczema, cradle cap, constipation, pain and fever, and teething. Many pharmacies offer a baby care service to weigh and measure your baby. Some have qualified child health nurses available for consultation.
• Self-care and lifestyle assessments which focus on wellness and keeping you out of hospital, for example with BMI checks and help to quit smoking.
• Medical certificates can sometimes be obtained.