December 2023 - Community Pharmacy NI

Community pharmacy teams have administered over 22,000 COVID-19 and flu vaccinations across 440 care homes in Northern Ireland since October 2023.

This means vaccinations have been made available to over 99% of care homes across Northern Ireland, with the programme of vaccination visits for the sector expected to be completed this month.

Vaccination for residents in care homes is a key part of the wider community vaccination programme funded by the Department of Health. This is aimed at boosting the protection of those over the age of 65, frontline health and social care workers, and adults in a clinical risk category, with vaccinations available in local community pharmacies. Community pharmacy teams have been the sole provider of this service to individuals living in care homes, as part of a new scheme established during the pandemic.

Community Pharmacy NI has commended the pharmacists and their teams for their diligent delivery of this vital service, hailing its success as further evidence of the efficient, high-quality pharmacy expertise available in the heart of the community.

Commenting on the success of the Winter Vaccination Programme delivered by community pharmacists, Vice Chair of Community Pharmacy NI and Country Pharmacy Manager at Boots, Marie Smith said:

“Community pharmacy is the first choice for many in our communities, especially the elderly and those preferring not to travel, due to our convenience and the fact that patients know and trust us. It is great to see so many people receive COVID-19 and flu vaccinations in care homes from community pharmacists; these are some of the most vulnerable people in our society who simply can’t access a healthcare setting, so the success of the programme is a testament to the hard work and dedication of community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland.

The enthusiastic participation of care homes and residents is also encouraging ahead of the Christmas period with people visiting loved ones during this time”.

“Our flexibility, accessibility and ability to administer this volume of vaccinations is further proof that if community pharmacy is funded adequately, pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland can do a lot more to ease pressures on the health service and provide expert healthcare in the heart of the community”.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Lourda Geoghegan hailed the efforts made to deliver vaccinations: “The provision of COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations to residents in our care homes is hugely important and I very much appreciate the work done to date and the work continuing to make that happen through this year’s Autumn vaccination programmes.

“Everyone involved in our COVID-19 and Influenza vaccination programmes – including community pharmacies, GPs, PHA, Trust and Departmental colleagues – is providing vital protection to citizens and vital support to our health service amid severe winter-related pressures.”

Women in Northern Ireland can now visit participating community pharmacies for advice and treatment for uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) without having to wait for a GP appointment.

The service is part of Pharmacy First and is available for women aged 16 to 64. All community pharmacists providing this service are qualified healthcare professionals with the training and ability to test and treat UTIs. They will offer a confidential consultation in a private area of the pharmacy where patients can discuss their symptoms with the pharmacist. Symptoms of a UTI can include:

Burning or stinging sensation on passing urine
Needing to pass urine frequently or urgently
Cloudy urine
Passing excessive or large quantities of urine

The pharmacist may test the patient’s urine to help determine if a UTI is present. In some cases, self-care advice may be all that is necessary. The community pharmacist will be able to supply the patient with medicines to relieve pain and if appropriate, an antibiotic. In all cases, women will be advised what to do if their symptoms worsen or do not resolve.

Joe Brogan, Assistant Director, Pharmacy and Medicines Management, Department of Health said: “Urinary Tract Infections can be extremely uncomfortable and it’s thought that up to 50% of women will experience one during their lifetime.

“The Pharmacy First UTI service means women can be assessed and treated much sooner without having to wait for a GP appointment. Not only will patients not need an appointment, but community pharmacies are more likely to be open after normal working hours, at weekends and bank holidays.”

The UTI management service has been expanded to more than 400 community pharmacies this year, following the positive evaluation of a pilot which has involved around 60 pharmacies since July 2021.

Between March 2022 and April 2023, over 3,500 women in Northern Ireland made use of the pilot service. Following assessment, more than 85% were diagnosed with a UTI and received appropriate advice and treatment from the pharmacist.

Stephen Toland, community pharmacist at Murphy’s Pharmacy, Derry who has been providing this service since 2021 said: “The feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re really happy that they are able to get same day advice and treatment from a health professional all close to home, for a condition that can be very distressing.”

More information about the Pharmacy First service can be found here: https://online.hscni.net/our-work/pharmacy-and-medicines-management/community-pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/#PF3

Notes to editors:

Detail of participating pharmacies is available online: https://online.hscni.net/our-work/pharmacy-and-medicines-management/community-pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/#PF3
No appointment is necessary, patients can simply request a consultation with a pharmacist.
Between March 2022 and April 2023, 3,519 patients benefitted from the pilot service. Once assessed 3,052 (86.73%) of patients were diagnosed as likely suffering from a UTI and provided with the appropriate treatment.
During this period 5.37% of patients were referred to their GP or Out of Hours service.
Pharmacy First for everyday health conditions is available at all community pharmacies in Northern Ireland.
For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk
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Living Well community pharmacies are backing a call for people to look after their mental health this December and January.

Across the two months, the pharmacies involved are encouraging people to ‘take 5 steps to wellbeing’ and show the same level of care for their mental health as they do for their physical health.

The ‘Take 5’ approach encourages building healthy habits into your everyday life to help bolster your emotional and mental wellbeing.

Fiona Teague, Regional Lead for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing at the Public Health Agency (PHA), said: “Looking after your mental health should be every bit as important as your physical health.

“The Take 5 Steps are a great way to make sure you’re checking in with yourself and taking time for that little bit of self-care that can help you to feel better.

“They cover a range of aspects crucial to your emotional wellbeing and are good for helping people to find balance, build resilience and boost mental health and wellbeing.”

The Take 5 Steps are:

Connect
Keep learning
Be active
Take notice
Give

To find out more about the Take 5 Steps, please visit www.pha.site/Take5Steps

Niall Falls, community pharmacist from Falls Pharmacy in Cookstown, said: “We’re delighted to be involved with this campaign which can really help people with their mental wellbeing.

“Starting that conversation about someone’s mental health is so important and our role at the heart of communities allows us to make those connections.

“We also have other more specialist resources that we can signpost to, for those that are feeling low or feel they might benefit from further help.”

Living Well is a community-based pharmacy service offered in over 500 pharmacies across Northern Ireland. It is delivered in partnership by the PHA, Community Pharmacy NI, and the Department of Health, and provides key public health messages and advice through these pharmacies.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information and local services that offer help and support on a range of issues which can affect mental health and wellbeing, visit www.mindingyourhead.info
A directory of services to help improve mental health and emotional wellbeing is available at www.mindingyourhead.info/services
The Community Wellbeing hub also offers a range of information, self-help guides and ways to access help and support – www.communitywellbeing.info
The PHA commissions the regional 24/7 freephone crisis counselling helpline Lifeline 0808 808 8000. It is available for people of all ages and calls to Lifeline are answered by qualified crisis counsellors. The service can also offer face-to-face counselling sessions for those who require it within their community or over the telephone where appropriate. For more info, see www.lifelinehelpline.info
The Lifeline service also offers a textphone number 18001 0808 808 8000 for those who are deaf or have hearing difficulties and uses the SignVideo app for British and Irish sign language users. If English is not an individual’s first or preferred language, Lifeline can access translators to speak to a person in their preferred language.