Well, finally, here we are with a shiny new minor ailment service in South Tyneside – a bigger formulary, fuller list of conditions to treat and the promise that the lists will keep on growing – the time for pharmacy managing minor ailments in South Tyneside is now.
The 39 pharmacies we have will provide helpful easy access to minor ailments for patients; and will definitely reduce the strain on our overstretched GP colleagues, and other services.
This is a win-win for everybody.
There’s been a soft launch so far last month, but in the coming months prepare for a lot of publicity and signposting into community pharmacy.
My plea to pharmacy colleagues, then, is to embrace minor ailments - remove the chocks, and let’s fly with this new service and really show we can make a difference!!!
Recently the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have produced the following video to help highlight minor ailments services. This couldn't have come at a more timely manner for our local "Think Pharmacy First"service