Claire Anderson
Abstract Country Report UK-Community Pharmacy
United Kingdom / Health promotion in community pharmacies UK

Community pharmacies in the UK are an excellent setting for health promotion in the community; over 90% of the population visit a pharmacy every year. Pharmacy education and training is changing and health promotion is now part of the undergraduate curriculum. There is an increasing body of research about the effects of pharmacy health promotion and there are a number of examples of good practice.

The Pharmacy Health Care Scheme, launched by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 1986 and funded by the Department of Health, has provided materials and support for pharmacists. Barnet Health Authority’s High Street Health Scheme, launched in 1991, had a major influence on other health authorities. Community pharmacists were supported by trained facilitators in Glasgow and Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow (EHH).

EHH pioneered the idea of using pharmacy windows to promote health, thus drawing individuals into the pharmacy to ask for further advice. Smoking cessation has been the target of many developments, including Smoking Challenge 2000 in Northern Ireland and Pro-Change, a smoking cessation service supported by trained advisers and multimedia computers in Boots the Chemists and primary care. Both of these initiatives use the stages of change model, which was also adopted by South Staffordshire health authority in their ‘Your first stop for better health’ scheme.

The National Pharmaceutical Association worked with the Pharmacy Healthcare Scheme and the Health Education Authority to produce a pack that community pharmacists can use to promote the use of folic acid pre-conception and in early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects.
Pharmacists in the Liverpool area have run clinics for people with angina in GP surgeries, advising about medicines management and general health issues.

In a number of areas, pharmacists are providing emergency contraception and head lice treatment to people who would normally have to have a prescription, under a scheme called “Patient group directions, providing better access”.

Individuals have worked with their local community to provide health promoting services; Dines Green pharmacy in Worcester is an excellent example. Lloyds pharmacy, a multiple chain, are developing CHAT centres where people can go for information and advice about everything from health and medicines to state benefits.

Governmental and professional policy developments have supported a role in health promotion for pharmacists and a number of guidance documents have been produced to support pharmacists. Pharmacists see healthy as well as sick people. They have a special relationship with many of their regular customers which enables them to promote health and they can also give messages to passing trade. However, a number of issues, such as training and remuneration, must be addressed before health promotion becomes fully integrated into the pharmacist’s role.