Yesterday, during Ask Your Pharmacist Week, local Watford MP Dean Russell visited Abbotswood Park Pharmacy to highlight the invaluable contributions that community pharmacies make to public health and how they are transforming for the future.
Dean is a proud advocate for all those working on the NHS frontline and has been very vocal about community pharmacies being given the support to undertake key services that would help to free up the wider NHS. Dean often takes opportunities to celebrate the brilliant work of Watford’s pharmacy teams in Parliament and was delighted to see one in action this week.
Abbotswood Park Pharmacy, located on Cunningham Way, is one of several independent pharmacies run by Chemilab Ltd, a family business operating across Watford since 1985. It’s a prime example of how pharmacies are adapting to fit the needs of modern patients. During his visit Dean witnessed first-hand how the pharmacy team provides accessible care in the heart of the community and observed their use of advanced technology, including a dispensing robot.
Dean was delighted to learn what the ‘Pharmacies Of Tomorrow’ could be doing for people. A new Vision for Community Pharmacy commissioned by Community Pharmacy England describes how pharmacies’ role in healthcare could be expanded over the next decade to provide more help than ever before for people close to home. This will make better use of pharmacists’ professional skills, improving health outcomes and delivering better value for the public and the NHS. This is something Dean is very supportive of.
Whilst these changes are still to be introduced, Dean would encourage residents to take advantage of the services community pharmacies already offer, such as flu vaccinations, to stay well this winter. Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals and can take the pressure off local GP practices. People in Watford can visit their pharmacist for advice on medicines or when they are suffering from common ailments such as coughs, colds, aches, pains and indigestion. You can also get healthy living support, advice to help you manage your long-term medical conditions, and blood pressure checks for the over 40s.
There are 23 pharmacies in Watford, all providing essential services for their local communities. Community pharmacies play a vital role in society and similar to local GP practices, they also serve as part of the NHS family. Anyone can visit their local pharmacy to access medicines, healthcare advice and a range of other health services.
Details of your local pharmacy can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Dean said:
"Community pharmacies are the backbone of our local community’s health and wellbeing. They are often the first point of contact for many individuals seeking health advice and medical services and all work hard to keep people well across the town. During the winter period, community pharmacies are even more critical as they offer services such as flu jabs to eligible recipients. I am grateful for the unwavering commitment of our local pharmacists and their teams in supporting the health of Watford's residents.”
Girish Mehta, Managing Director of Chemilab Pharmacy who has served as a community pharmacist in Kingswood, Garston since the 1980s, said:
“Community pharmacies are the most accessible healthcare locations offering convenient access to medicines and a range of services without the need for an appointment.
“As winter draws nearer, many people will sadly suffer with ill health. Older people aged 65 and over and adults with certain medical conditions can benefit from the NHS vaccination services offered in pharmacies and this service makes it easier for you to protect yourself against Covid and the flu by getting vaccinated. The vaccination will help protect people through the winter months avoiding an illness that can have serious consequences.
“Pharmacists are experts on the use of medicines and should be the first port of call if you are feeling unwell. Use them to your benefit and ease the burden on other service providers. Patients value the convenience of receiving support and advice from a healthcare professional within their local pharmacy.”
Notes to Editors
Community Pharmacy Hertfordshire represents community pharmacies within Hertfordshire: www.hertslpc.org.uk
Community Pharmacy England represents and supports community pharmacies across England www.cpe.org.uk
The Pharmacies of Tomorrow vision and strategy report is available on the CPE website https://cpe.org.uk/our-work/about-us/our-vision-and-strategy/
Ask Your Pharmacist Week is the flagship annual public awareness campaign for community pharmacy across the UK. AYP Week this year is 30 October – 6 November https://www.npa.co.uk/ask-your-pharmacist-week-2023
