Pharmacists
What can my local pharmacy offer?
Pharmacists are an integral part of the NHS, providing vital healthcare services, and now your pharmacist can provide an even wider range of new and improved services, without having to make an appointment. These new services include:
- providing information and advice on the safe and effective use of medicines that have been prescribed for you by your GP
- repeat dispensing, which means that if you use the same medicines regularly, and your prescriber agrees, you won’t need to collect a new prescription every time you need more medicines. All you need to do is go to your pharmacy. This is done in partnership with your prescriber (usually your GP or practice nurse) and yourself
- ensuring your safety through advice on safe systems for handling medicines, including disposal of unwanted medicines
- providing you with advice on healthier lifestyles, including advice on stopping smoking and sexual health
- if you need more advice, support or treatment that your local pharmacy cannot provide, the pharmacist will be able to direct you to other appropriate health and social care services or support organisations, who may be able to help
- providing you with self care advice on coughs, colds or other minor ailments
Are pharmacists qualified to help?
Yes. Pharmacists are highly skilled and extensively trained professionals. In addition to a masters degree undertaken over four years, they also undertake a year of pre-registration training, all of which includes extensive training in the actions, uses and side-effects of medicines. They can answer questions you may have about choosing and using the right medicine, provide easy to understand advice on treating everyday ailments, and even help you decide if you need to see your doctor.
Your pharmacist is a health professional and is subject to a professional code of ethics. So you have the peace of mind of knowing that you can discuss your health and symptoms in complete confidence.
What information do I need to give the pharmacist?
Before offering you a medicine, your pharmacist will ask a few questions. So please don’t be offended, or feel that the pharmacist is prying. Remember that the information you give will help to make sure that the medicines you receive are the most appropriate for you.
- Some people need to be even more careful than others about taking medicines. You will be asked if the person who is ill is a child, elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding and whether there are any other factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as allergies, sensitivities or existing medical conditions, such as asthma
- A good clue to what you have is how long you have been suffering. You may be advised to see your doctor depending on the length and severity of your symptoms
Some medicines interact badly with each other. It is important to tell your pharmacist about any medicines, including herbal or complementary remedies, that you are already taking.
Head-lice Scheme
Free head-lice treatment is available for people who are registered with a Kirklees GP and are exempt from paying prescription charges from certain pharmacies in Kirklees. Please see the list of accredited pharmacies to find out where your nearest participating pharmacy is.
