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Pharmacists
Pharmacists were formerly widely known as chemists. They are experts in the use and effects of medicines, and play a key role in providing quality healthcare to patients.
The NHS Help Card is an initiative from NHS North East which aims to help and support you whenever you visit your NHS hospital, doctor, dentist, optician or pharmacist.
The card features a blank panel on the front where you can write down any special requirements and a tick list of different languages on the reverse for those who cannot speak English. Simply show the card to a member of staff if you need help, for example:
- if you are unable to walk far
- if you are confused, lost or don’t know where to go
- if you cannot speak or hear
- if you do not understand English
- if you have a learning disability
NHS Help Cards are available free by contacting your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). See below for contact details, or visit the website.
How to find your local pharmacy
The North East Primary Care Services Agency website allows you to search for a list of your local pharmacies, and the services they provide, using your postcode. You can also contact them using the details at the bottom of the page.
What to expect from your pharmacy
Pharmacies can offer many different services including:
- Dispensing your prescription with advice on how to take your medicines, what effects you might notice and what to do if you find unpleasant side effects, or think the medicine is not working.
- In certain circumstances, they can provide emergency supplies of your prescription medicines.
- Advice on, and treatment for minor ailments. Depending on the symtoms you describe, the pharmacist will tell you if they think you should talk to a doctor, or may recommend you buy a medicine.
- Advice on healthy living and disease prevention. In some pharmacies this will include professional counselling on stopping smoking, weight control or alcohol consumption.
- Signposting. Pharmacies have information on other health and social services and how to access them.
Think Pharmacy First
A new campaign has launched to enable people who receive free prescriptions to go straight to their pharmacy for treatment for minor ailments. Think Pharmacy First started on Friday 1 May 2009 and aims to give patients who receive free prescriptions greater choice and faster access to treatment for minor conditions.
In the past, patients with minor ailments who are entitled to free prescriptions have made an appointment to see their GP for a prescription and then visited their community pharmacy to pick it up. Think Pharmacy First offers patients who qualify, the choice of going straight to their pharmacist - without an appointment - for a consultation where they will be given advice and free over the counter medicine, where appropriate, for minor ailments. They will be referred to a GP where necessary.
Think Pharmacy First is available to adults who are entitled to free prescriptions on the grounds of low income and their children. People over 60 are also entitled to use the scheme. Proof could be your HC2 certificate, or income support. Among the minor ailments covered by the scheme are coughs, colds, sore throats, headaches, hay fever, heartburn or indigestion, stomach upsets, head lice and eczema.
For more information go to any pharmacy that shows a Think Pharmacy First window sticker.
Do I need to make an appointment?
Normally you don’t need to make an appointment. It is possible to walk into any community pharmacy and ask to speak with the pharmacist, who hopefully should be able to spend some time with you. Some pharmacies have separate areas that you can use to give you more privacy.
However, this may not always be possible. During busy periods the pharmacist may ask you to come back later during a quieter time.
Prescriptions
The current price for a prescription is £7.40. This is the charge per prescribed item, so you have to pay for each type of drug prescribed even if they are included on the same prescription.
Everyone aged 60 years old and over automatically gets free prescriptions. All you need to do is to tick the relevant box on the back of the prescription, and complete and sign the declaration in the space provided, before handing it over the counter at the pharmacy.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits you may also be entitled to free prescriptions. For further information, visit our section on Help with health costs.
Prescription Pre-payment Certificates
If you use a lot of prescription medication and you pay for your prescriptions, it may work out cheaper to purchase a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate. This will be the case if you have to pay for more than 4 prescription items in 3 months, or for 14 items in 12 months.
You can buy a 3-month Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (at a cost of £29.10) or a 12-month certificate (at a cost of £104.00). To help spread the cost, you can now choose to pay for the 12-month certificate by 10 monthly Direct Debit instalments.
For advice on Prescription Pre-payment, Medical and Maternity Exemption Certificates call the Busniess Services Authority on telephone number 0845 850 0030.
If you are housebound
Some pharmacies will deliver your prescription to you if you are housebound. Ask your pharmacist if they can do this and whether or not there will be a charge.
Complaining about your pharmacy
If you have a complaint about a pharmacist, or the owner of a pharmacy, you should first take up the complaint with your pharmacist who may be able to resolve the matter informally. If your complaint cannot be dealt with in this way, your pharmacy will have a Complaints Procedure which will include providing you with a written account of your complaint and a deadline for responding to it. Your pharmacist will also give you the contact details of the appropriate Primary Care Services Agency.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises in Great Britain. You can contact the General Pharmaceutical Council using the contact details below or go to their website which includes a complaint form.
Contact Information
General Pharmaceutical Council
129 Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7BJ.
Telephone : 020 3365 3603.
Email : concerns@pharmacyregulation.org
North East Primary Care Services Agency
2nd Floor, Partnership House, Regents Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3HD.
Telephone : 0191 275 4200.
Email : mailto:customer.services@nepcsa.nhs.uk
Article last updated December 8, 2011 4:01 pm
