The use of additional services at local pharmacies
Download (PDF 645.31 KB)Summary of report content
Between October 2016 and March 2017 Healthwatch Northamptonshire carried out its annual ‘Make Your Voice Count’ campaign. 169 of the people they spoke to completed a survey telling us about their own or a family member’s experiences of local services and their views on how things could be made better. As part of this, they asked people about their opinions and use of additional services at their local pharmacies, besides dispensing and disposal of medication and advice on treatment of minor conditions.
More than half had not used any of the additional pharmacy services listed, rising to 71% of people under the age of 65
The most used services were: flu vaccination service (33 people, 20%), home delivery service (26 people, 15%), and Medicine Review Service (23 people, 14%)
Younger people (aged under 35) had used a wider range of services than older people (aged 65 and over) but more aged 65 and over had used at least one service (71%)
Other additional services that people would welcome at their local pharmacy included advice on dealing with minor ailments, general wellbeing advice, such as weight and stress management, and also advice on specific conditions (such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes)
Most people preferred collecting prescription medication over the counter from their pharmacy (104 people, 67%).
The report contains four recommendations about awareness raising of pharmacy services.