Ahead of World Pharmacist Day, people in the Black Country are being reminded that their local community pharmacy can help with minor health conditions.
Taking place on Sunday 25 September, World Pharmacy Day encourages people to celebrate the important role played by pharmacists in improving health in every corner of the world.
People across the area are being urged to make their local pharmacy their first port of call when seeking medical advice for minor conditions and play their part in helping the NHS to manage current pressures.
Stephen Noble, local pharmacist and Chief Officer of the Dudley Local Pharmaceutical Committee, said: “If you need help to manage a minor condition, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains, your local pharmacy is the best place to go.
“As well as offering free expert advice on a wide range of health issues, pharmacists can help with dispensing medicines, repeat prescriptions, and help people choose the correct over-the-counter medicine. And, if symptoms suggest its something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure patients get the help they need.
“As most people living within easy reach of a pharmacy, and with many pharmacies offering extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends, pharmacy teams offer fast and convenient support with no appointment needed.”
People are also being reminded to correctly dispose of unwanted, out of date or unused medication safely.
Jyoti Saini, a local NHS pharmacist in the Black Country, said: “As a general rule of thumb, you should dispose of any medication that you are no longer using. While it is recommended to keep a basic kit of over the counter medicine, keeping an excessive amount of medication, or leftover prescription medication, can be potentially dangerous and should be avoided.”
“You should get rid of any medication that has passed its expiration or use by date, is left over from a previous condition or if the protective packaging is damaged.
“To safely dispose of medication, it’s best to either return the medication to the pharmacy you got the medication from, or find a pharmacy near you and take it straight to them. Pharmacies have the ability to dispose of medication in the safest way possible - significantly reducing any risk of harm - and also do so following UK legislation for the disposal of medication.”
To find your local pharmacy, visit the NHS website here.
