A:There are over 12000 community pharmacies across the UK, so for most of us, there’s one very close by. What’s great is that you don’t need an appointment and, at every one, there’s a fully qualified healthcare professional and support team ready to answer questions and offer knowledgeable advice. It’s their job to help you get the most out of your medicines and treatments.

A: You might be surprised at what pharmacies now offer: personalised medicines advice, help to quit smoking and to maintain good sexual health, treatment for minor ailments, advice on preventing disease. And more. So, it’s a package of care...not just packets of pills! All pharmacies offer:

• Dispensing of Medicines 
• Personalised medicines advice
• Disposing unwanted medicines
• Signposting to other health and social care support 
• Advice on healthy living

Some pharmacies may also offer:

• Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections
• Health checks for example blood pressure and cholesterol
• Free medicines health checks on the NHS
• Support to stop smoking
• Weight management
• Flu vaccinations
• Allergy screening
• And more!

A: This is down to local NHS priorities. An area which has a higher level of obesity or more smokers is more likely to commission NHS services in pharmacies to tackle these health problems.

A: You can in some pharmacies. However, as most are open for long hours six days a week, it shouldn't be too difficult to pop back at a more convenient time.

A: The majority of pharmacies now have consultation rooms, where you can talk with your pharmacist without being overheard. Many people are eligible for a free, medicines check-up on the NHS which is often carried out in a consultation room. Many pharmacists also do health checks and vaccinations in the consultation areas too.

A: Pharmacists study at university for four years and then have a year ‘in practice’ before qualifying. They are the experts in the use of medicines for the treatment of disease. For services like allergy screening, pharmacists undergo additional approved training. Pharmacy staff are required to undertake approved training to work in a pharmacy. They work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.

A: Community pharmacists work with GPs to ensure there are no gaps in healthcare provision and frequently a pharmacist will refer a patient back to a GP for more complex conditions. However, many conditions can be treated by the pharmacist or a member of the pharmacy team – pharmacists are experts in medicine. Seeing a pharmacist is more convenient to the patient as they can just pop in to the pharmacy for advice and treatment without an appointment.

A: The pharmacy is a good first point of contact for dealing with the vast majority of health concerns. Pharmacists are trained to know when a referral to another health care professional is advisable. Far from it being a barrier to appropriate treatment, a visit to the pharmacy can save lives. Real life examples are:

• A patient who sought advice on stomach pains being sent straight to A&E for surgery on twisted guts
• A patient who came in for treatment of ulcers being referred into a GP where a diagnosis of oral cancer was made and a wheezing man collapsing in the pharmacy where staff resuscitated him and an ambulance took him to hospital.

A: The answer is simple: because medicines can harm as well as heal. Questions like ‘have you taken the medicine before’ or ‘what are your symptoms’ may seem intrusive, but pharmacy staff rely on the answers to make sure that the medicine they supply is suitable and safe. Hundreds of thousands of people each year are admitted to hospital due to adverse drug reactions and many more would be harmed without the questioning of pharmacy staff. Pharmacists and their team may ask:

Who is the medicine for?

The pharmacist will need to know if the medicine is for someone who is under 12, pregnant, breast feeding or elderly because they are highly likely to have particular requirements – for example, many medicines aren’t suitable for the under-12s, and some have ingredients that could harm an unborn child or small baby. The elderly are very likely to be taking more than one medicine and some medicines can’t be taken together.

What are the symptoms?

Some more serious conditions can be hidden by symptoms that appear to be for less serious problems. For example meningitis, malaria and some other conditions have similar symptoms to ‘flu, but they can be fatal if they’re not identified early enough.

How long have you had these symptoms?

Usually minor symptoms clear up within a couple of days but if they last longer, keep coming back or, if they seem unusually severe it could be a sign of something more seriously wrong. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you if you need to see your GP or another healthcare professional.

What action has already been taken?

You may already have tried a remedy or seen your GP, and may not have had any relief. The pharmacist will need to find out what you have tried, and what advice you have already been given, if any. They don't want to offer the same product if it has not worked in the first place.

Are you taking any other medication for this or any other reasons?

If you are taking medicines long term, for example to keep your blood pressure down or to ease arthritis pain, it’s easy to forget about it when you’re looking for something to relieve your cold. But it could be important – for example, some medicines for depression can react with decongestants. Other people with stomach ulcers can do a lot more damage if they take something that contains aspirin.

A: This is a decision that is down to each country’s government. Pharmacists do not like prescription charges as they deter many people from getting medicines which their doctor prescribed. Patients on low fixed incomes who do not qualify for exemption suffer the most. Prescription charges also involve an administrative burden on pharmacists. Pharmacists, like other health care professionals, experience great pressures on their time and any release of time could be used to enhance patient care.

A: Pharmacists do not see a penny from prescription charges.

A: If you need more than one item per month, a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate can help you to save money. For more information, telephone 0845 850 0030 or buy on line www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx