How Pharmacies Can Help With Common Ailments Book Now
With a bigger focus on helping the local community and easing the pressure on the NHS, people are encouraged to visit their local pharmacist for common ailments before contacting their GP or going to other healthcare professionals. Since pharmacists train for 5 years, they have the necessary knowledge and skills to assist with a wide range of common ailments.
Common Ailments Your Pharmacy Can Help With
One of the many advantages of going to a pharmacy is that you can visit most of them without an appointment and they are usually open late into the evening and at weekends. If you need to discuss something sensitive, nearly all pharmacies have a consultation room where you can speak with staff in private. Here are some of the most common ailments or conditions that patients can get advice and support from their local pharmacy for:
- Headaches and migraines
- Sore throat
- Cold or flu
- Heartburn
- Hay fever and allergies
- Cystitis
- Insect bites and skin rashes
- Constipation
- Teething
- Earache
- A build-up of ear wax (book ear microsuction at Chippenham Pharmacy)
These are just a few of the many common ailments that your local pharmacy can help with. If you have a problem that is not listed here, ask your pharmacist for assistance and they will recommend the best course of treatment.
Benefits Of Visiting Community Pharmacies For Common Ailments
If you are feeling unwell and possibly have any of the listed common ailments, your local pharmacy can help. Since pharmacists are highly trained medical professionals, they can give the same advice and treatment for common ailments and illnesses as your GP. When visiting your local pharmacy, you can ask to see a pharmacist who can also provide private consultation and in most cases, it is much quicker to be seen by a pharmacist than to wait for a GP appointment.
If you are normally exempt from paying for prescriptions, the medicine offered at the pharmacy is free of charge. Even if you usually pay for prescriptions, pharmacists can still offer free advice and dispense cheaper alternatives to what you would usually get prescribed. And remember, just like with a GP visit, anything said to the pharmacist will be treated confidentially.
Occasionally, you will not need medication and will instead receive professional healthcare advice. If the pharmacist believes it would be more beneficial for you to visit another service, they will highlight the most suitable one for you. They will only provide medicine if you have an ongoing condition that requires treatment and any medication must only be used to treat yourself or someone who is dependent on you.
How Pharmacies Are Helping The NHS And General Practitioners
The current state of the NHS can make it difficult for some patients to know where to turn for advice when it comes to common ailments, in particular. With community pharmacies, like Chippenham Pharmacy & Health Clinic, patients have additional access to healthcare advice and essential services.
By managing and supplying more medicines without the need for a GP prescription, pharmacies could free up to 2 million general practice appointments each year. They could also take referrals from emergency care for minor illnesses or symptoms, such as coughs, headaches or sore throats. This would help ease pressures on GPs and free up time for appointments.
The drive toward pharmacy first and self-care for low-acuity conditions help to ease the mounting pressure on the NHS so fewer patients fill up their GP practice for more common ailments and minor health concerns.
Treating Common Ailments At Chippenham Pharmacy & Health Clinic
Looking ahead, pharmacies will play an even bigger role in treating common ailments with more prescribing power, including contraception management and making simple diagnostic tests readily available. If people with minor health conditions went to a community pharmacy rather than their primary care service, it would improve patient access to care and help spread the demand for services more evenly.
In summary, pharmacies can provide expert medical advice and support patients with short-term, common ailments. At Chippenham Pharmacy, we can dispense both NHS and private prescriptions and offer a wide range of NHS and private services. To find out more about what we can do, visit our Clinical Services page which includes a section where you can also book an appointment in a few easy steps.
Other Pharmacy Services
In addition to prescriptions, other services that your local pharmacy may provide include the following:
- Emergency contraception
- Asthma inhaler use and advice
- Chlamydia screening and treatment
- Stop smoking service
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing
- Substance abuse service (needle and syringe exchange schemes)
- Weight management service (£25.00 for an online or face-to-face consultation with Chippenham Pharmacy)
- Flu vaccination
- Travel vaccination
- Hay fever and allergy advice and treatment
- Ear wax removal
- Women’s Health (period pain, period delay, thrush)
- Urinary Incontinence
With community pharmacies, like Chippenham Pharmacy & Health Clinic, patients have additional access to healthcare advice and essential services. The drive toward pharmacy first and self-care for low-acuity conditions help to ease the mounting pressure on the NHS.
FAQs
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Yes, Lumi Eye treatments are safe and involve minimal risks when performed by trained professionals.
Fortunately, eczema is not a contagious condition. Even if you are experiencing an active flare-up, it’s impossible to pass it onto someone else. If you think that you have contracted eczema from another person, it is most likely another skin condition.
Certain foods can lead to an eczema flare-up if you’re prone to sensitivities. Dairy, processed foods, and certain fruits and vegetables are known to be triggers for eczema symptoms in some people. Fatty meats, trans-fats, and refined sugars should also be avoided if possible as they can worsen the condition. Eating a balanced diet free from these inflammatory foods can help keep eczema flares under control and provide relief.
Yes, it is generally safe to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. Many healthcare providers encourage this for convenience, especially before the peak of flu season and during periods of high COVID-19 transmission.
No, hair does not grow back thicker after dermaplaning. While dermaplaning provides temporary results and hair does grow back, it returns at the same colour and thickness as before. The procedure only removes hair and impurities on the skin’s surface without affecting the hair follicle.
Yes, you should always take your medication at the time recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
As hormone levels fluctuate during perimenopause, it is not uncommon for women to experience bouts of mood swings and anxiousness. Even the slightest thing can set them off which often causes arguments with their partners. Despite being difficult to manage, understanding these symptoms could be key in helping address any issues that may arise personally and within relationships.
Flu vaccines are highly effective in reducing the severity of illness, preventing hospitalisations by 40% to 70% in vulnerable populations. COVID-19 vaccines help protect against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death, especially for those with weakened immune systems or other risk factors.
Results typically last between 6 to 12 months, depending on your skin type and lifestyle.
Menopause is notoriously known to cause hot flashes or hot flushes, occurring in up to 75% of all women. These sudden increases in body temperature are most common before a woman’s last period, and for most, these symptoms tend to last about two years.
As soon as we receive your prescription from your doctors, we will dispense it immediately. It should be with you within 2 to 3 working days from receiving your prescription.
Women typically experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with a duration of 7 to 14 years but it may depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking habits, the age when it starts, race or ethnicity.
Most clients see significant improvement after just one session, but additional sessions may be recommended for optimal results.
Results vary by individual but generally, improvements in skin hydration and texture can be noticed within a few weeks of the first treatment. Optimal results, particularly in firmness and reduction of fine lines, typically develop over the following months as your skin naturally regenerates and produces more collagen and elastin.
Yes, dermaplaning can be beneficial for those without severe skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or acne. It helps to even out skin tone, brighten a dull complexion, and remove unwanted facial hair.
Polynucleotide Treatment at Chippenham Pharmacy requires minimal to no downtime. You might experience slight redness or swelling immediately after the treatment, but this usually subsides quickly. You’ll receive detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery, and you can generally return to your daily activities immediately, following any specific advice provided during your consultation.
Getting vaccinated not only offers personal protection against severe illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19, but it also helps reduce the spread of the virus within our community. As more people get vaccinated, we can start to build immunity and eventually reach herd immunity, protecting those who cannot get vaccinated due to medical reasons. This will allow us to safely return to a more normal way of life.
During your first session, you will have a consultation with an experienced practitioner who will assess your skin and discuss your aesthetic goals. This is followed by the treatment, which involves minimal discomfort and is targeted to your specific skin needs. The session focuses on delivering a tailored experience aimed at improving skin hydration, texture, and reducing signs of ageing.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder which occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy skin cells. It is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, such as stress levels, hormones, infections, climate, lifestyle factors, and certain medications.
Hydrocortisone creams and ointments are popular for treating small areas of psoriasis. While mild hydrocortisone is available over-the-counter, if you have more than just a few patches, it’s best to obtain an appropriate prescription from your GP to see the most effective results.
At Chippenham Pharmacy, our contraception service offers:
- Personalised Consultation: Guidance on starting or continuing the oral contraceptive pill.
- Health Checks: Important assessments like blood pressure and BMI to ensure the safety and appropriateness of the contraception method.
- Privacy and Comfort: Our consultation rooms are designed for confidential and comfortable health discussions.
Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy, red, and inflamed patches on the skin. It typically appears in areas where your skin creases, including the face, elbows, knees, and hands.
Menopause is associated with an array of physical and emotional symptoms with the most common complaints being hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, other symptoms include sleep disturbances, urinary complaints, sexual dysfunction and changes in mood which can all have a significant impact on overall quality of life.
The safest method of contraception largely depends on individual health factors, preferences, and circumstances. Generally, Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants are considered among the safest and most effective forms of contraception. They have a success rate of over 99% in preventing pregnancy.
During your appointment, our dedicated healthcare professionals will administer the vaccine and monitor you for any potential side effects. They will also provide you with information on how to manage any mild symptoms that may occur after receiving the vaccine. We encourage patients to ask any questions they have about the vaccine during their appointment.
The usual triggers of eczema include irritants, like soaps and laundry detergents, certain shampoos, dishwashing liquids, and bubble baths. Other triggers involve environmental factors or allergens, cold weather conditions and humidity as well as dust mites in the home environment or pet fur, pollen or moulds.
Chippenham Pharmacy & Health Clinic is located at the following address: 12a, Cavalier Court, Bumpers Farm Roundabout, Chippenham SN14 6LH you can find us on the map too: Find Chippenham Pharmacy & Health Clinic.
The NHS offers free flu vaccines to individuals aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with certain long-term health conditions, and frontline health and social care workers. If you don’t qualify for a free vaccine, private flu vaccines are also available at pharmacies.
The spring Covid-19 vaccination is currently available for individuals aged 75 years and older, those residing in care homes for older adults, and individuals aged six months and over with a compromised immune system.
The oral contraceptive pill is favoured for its high effectiveness and user-friendliness. It is essential to assess if it aligns with your health and lifestyle requirements. Some of its benefits include a 99% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy, the regulation of menstrual cycles, and the potential to improve skin conditions like acne.
If you are not eligible for a free NHS vaccine, private flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are available. These vaccines are important for reducing the severity of illness and protecting against complications, especially if you work in a high-contact environment or have increased exposure to these viruses.