Community pharmacies across Northern Ireland have delivered a landmark one million consultations to patients through their “Living Well” public health service in the last three years. As frontline health services are facing year-round pressures, the Northern Ireland Health Minister has stated his ambition to move the focus of healthcare more towards disease prevention and early intervention – known as a “shift left”. The “Living Well” service provided by community pharmacies and supported by the Public Health Agency, is aimed at promoting key public health messages and advice to raise awareness and help address risk factors which contribute significantly to the overall prevalence of disease in Northern Ireland. Community pharmacists and pharmacy teams support major public health initiatives by offering targeted campaigns under the Living Well service, with each campaign running for two months in pharmacies across Northern Ireland. Campaigns include:
- Cancer Awareness – spotting the signs; promotion of cancer screening
- Mental Health – advice and signposting to services
- Stay Well this Winter – preparing for winter with self-care (Flu, COVID and RSV vaccinations)
- Sexual Health- (STIs, HPV, cervical screening and contraception)
- Healthy Living – live longer and stronger / staying active, know your alcohol units
- Childhood health – MMR Vaccination
Northern Ireland Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA said:“Reaching one million Living Well consultations is a remarkable milestone for health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland. It highlights the vital role community pharmacies play at the heart of Health and Social Care – supporting people close to home, empowering people to make positive choices and easing pressure on other services.“This neighbourhood approach is central to building healthier communities, and I want to thank our pharmacists and pharmacy teams for their dedication and commitment in supporting people every day.”
Gerard Greene, CEO of CPNI said:“As a population, we can collectively do more to adopt a healthy lifestyle and look after our own health, particularly to tackle some of the biggest health issues: cancer, obesity, heart disease and mental ill-health.“Through the highly trained and accessible health professionals in community pharmacies, there is a raft of support available to empower patients to make better choices to improve their own health and well-being, alongside many other important health interventions.“Feedback from patients and pharmacists captured in Living Well evaluation reports continually demonstrates the vital role pharmacies play in preventive healthcare and tackling health inequalities.“With such a well-established service, there is a real opportunity to build upon it further and really start to generate change within local neighbourhoods where community pharmacies are embedded.“ I would like to thank community pharmacy teams across Northern Ireland in achieving this milestone and to recognise the role they play in making a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of their local communities.”
Aidan Dawson, CEO of the Public Health Agency (PHA) added:“Community pharmacies are at the heart of local neighbourhoods, and this significant milestone for the Living Well programme reflects the important role they play as a trusted source of health advice and information. With a shared goal of making Northern Ireland healthier, working in partnership through programmes such as Living Well and involving community pharmacy teams who have expertise and local knowledge, together we can support people throughout their lives.”
