Mayor hears about Covid-19 response during visit to Newtownabbey pharmacy

During the visit, the UUP representative heard about the services provided by pharmacies during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pharmacies have been on the HSC frontline, working long hours and providing a vital service to communities up and down the country to ensure the ongoing safe supply of medicines and provision of professional medical advice continued for all, including the most vulnerable, during the first wave of the pandemic.

Luke McGregor (Pharmacy Manager) said: “Our team adapted quickly, understanding our role was to ensure the safe supply of medicines and advice to patients at all times, so that they could manage their conditions at home and keep further pressures away from our hospitals as much as possible.

“The support provided by community pharmacies continues to be crucial. Having these services available on our doorstep means the most vulnerable in our society can be cared for without having to attend their GP or other busy health care settings.

“The face-to-face nature of community pharmacy allows patients to know their pharmacy staff, making them feel safer and more cared for, especially in uncertain times like the pandemic.

“The winter months will mean a further expansion of much needed community services including ongoing flu vaccine service, which will be instrumental in protecting our health and social care staff and the public.

“Therefore, careful planning and the continued accessibility of services will be vital in the protection of the health and wellbeing of our communities this winter.

“Please make the most of the prompt, professional health care advice available to you at your local pharmacy. We are proud to be part of the HSC team and privileged to be able to serve our community.”

Patients can talk to a pharmacist about a wide range of health and health care issues, not just about medicines.

Sometimes people go to a doctor or even a hospital for problems that could be sorted out more conveniently at the pharmacy.

It’s estimated that up to 18 million GP appointments per year and 3.7 million A and E visits could instead be handled in a community pharmacy.

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