Latest news with #Pharmacists
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
What Pharmacies Offer
Here's what you can get help with:1. Minor IllnessesYou can walk into most pharmacies and get advice and treatment — often without needing to see a GP — for: Sore throats, earache for children, sinus infections, Impetigo, infected insect bites, UTIs in can offer treatments and even prescribe antibiotics where needed. Only a Pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics and not assistants so you will need to ask to see a Pharmacist if this is what you need. They have private consultation rooms in which you can be seen and assessed properly.2. VaccinationsYou can get a variety of jabs from Pharmacies including: Flu jabs, COVID boosters, Travel vaccines, Pneumonia and shingles vaccines (for eligible groups).There is an online Vaccination National Booking Service through the NHS. The link is on our website.3. Health Checks & ScreeningsMany offer:Blood pressure checks (free for over 40s), Cholesterol tests, Diabetes risk assessments, Weight management are especially helpful for catching early warning signs.4. Support for Long-Term ConditionsPharmacists help patients manage: Asthma (inhaler technique checks), high blood pressure, Diabetes medication, side effects or drug interactions5. Contraception & Emergency MedicineMany pharmacies also offer: The morning after pill, ongoing contraception advice, period delay medication and STI testing kits (in some areas)6. Help with MedicinesPharmacists can: Review your repeat prescriptions, help you use devices like inhalers or injectors properly, discuss side effects or alternative options and help with quitting smoking or cutting down alcohol7. Referrals & EscalationIf they spot anything serious, pharmacists can refer you to a GP or urgent care — they're trained to recognise red flags.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why you should never take antibiotics to treat a cold
Pharmacists report frequent pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics for common colds, which are viral infections not treatable with antibiotics. Taking antibiotics for colds won't provide relief and contributes to antibiotic resistance, making future bacterial infections harder to treat. Cold symptoms can mimic bacterial infections, but duration and severity are key differentiators. Colds typically resolve in seven-10 days. Unnecessary antibiotic use risks developing antibiotic resistance, leading to more severe, difficult-to-treat infections. Other side effects include gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and microbiome disruption. Rest, hydration, over-the-counter symptom relief, and home remedies like warm fluids and humidifiers are recommended for cold recovery. Antibiotics are appropriate only for confirmed bacterial infections like pneumonia or strep throat.
