6 surprising ways your pharmacist can help you
If, like most of us, you only visit the chemist to get your prescriptions and the odd pack of throat lozenges or bandages, it appears you’ve been missing out. As it turns out, your local pharmacist can do a lot more than refill your scripts. Here are six things you didn’t know they can help you with.
1. Doctor’s certificates
No, you don’t need to book an appointment with your GP. Most chemists can issue legal sick certificates for sick leave absences from work (or school, if you’re looking after the little ones). All you need to do is bring some ID and whatever medications you’ve been taking. They’ll assess your condition and provide a certificate if deemed necessary. Just one tip – call ahead to check they do indeed provide this service.
2. Get rid of expired or unwanted medicines
As we’ve discussed previously, you should never throw your unwanted or out-of-date drugs in the bin, as they can wreak havoc on the environment or wind up in the wrong hands. Instead, drop them off at your local pharmacy. Under the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) scheme, they’ll collect them and dispose of them for you, no questions asked.
3. Vaccinations
Again, you’ll have to check in ahead of your visit, but some pharmacists have undertaken an accredited vaccination training course, meaning they can offer vaccinations against the flu, whooping cough and more.
4. Look after your scripts
If you’re prone to misplacing your prescriptions after having them filled, you can leave them with your chemist. They’ll keep your repeats safe and might just prevent you from having to make a return visit to the GP to replace those missing scripts.
5. Tend to your wounds
Pharmacists are well trained when it comes to wound care. They can offer advice on how to treat and care for minor wounds like cuts, grazes, sunburns and minor burns. If it’s serious, though, a trip to the doctor should always be your first port of call.
6. Get a check-up
Do you know your risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke? If the answer is no, head to your local chemist. Most are able to provide free health checks, including BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
How many of these services are you taking advantage of? Let us know in the comments below.