Huw Merriman MP for Bexhill and Battle visited Ticehurst Community Pharmacy to hear about the work the pharmacy team are doing to help residents in Ticehurst to stay well.
During the visit Huw Merriman MP spoke with pharmacy team to understand the innovative ways Ticehurst Pharmacy engages with the local community and the high-quality health services and advice available from community pharmacies.
As the pressure on GP practices grows, more people are turning to pharmacies when they are feeling unwell or need healthcare advice. As a Healthy Living Pharmacy, talking to local schools about how to keep well, is just one of the innovative approaches to local health care provided by Nigel, Pharmacist and Owner of Ticehurst Pharmacy. Many of the services offered such as home delivery, are a real help to some of the most vulnerable people locally.
Nigel Howard Pharmacist and Owner said “Ticehurst Pharmacy is a vital and valued health and wellbeing asset in our local rural community. As well as dispensing medicines we ensure local people can get face-to-face professional healthcare advice without an appointment, to help ensure they stay as healthy as possible, and get the most out of their medicines.”
Huw commented “Faced with congestion in A&E departments, busy GP surgeries and rising demand for health and social care, it is more important than ever that we make best use of the network of community pharmacies on our high streets and local rural communities to keep people healthy and out of hospitals. We want to work more closely with GPs and do more both to help patients manage long term conditions and to support people in leading healthy lifestyles. Community pharmacy is ideally-placed to provide more support for patients and the public including: supporting people to manage their long-term conditions; providing the first port of call for healthcare advice and treatment; and becoming neighbourhood health and wellbeing hubs”
James Wood, Community Pharmacy Surrey & Sussex said: “Community pharmacies are much more than just places to get medicines. They provide a range of NHS services and ensure local people can get face-to-face professional healthcare advice without an appointment. We believe the Government should be making even better use of this network of healthcare locations in the heart of local communities, allowing them to offer a range of additional services that would both suit patients and reduce pressure on other healthcare services.”
About community pharmacy
Your local pharmacy is more than just a place to get medicines. It provides a range of NHS services and ensures people can get face-to-face, healthcare professional advice without an appointment.
There are around 14,000 community pharmacies across the UK, so for most of us, there’s one very close by. In fact, 96% of people can get to a pharmacy within 20 minutes by walking or using public transport. Community pharmacists provide rapid access, without appointment, to a healthcare professional and offer a range of clinical and public health services. Most pharmacies now have consultation rooms, where you can talk with your pharmacist without being overheard.
You might be surprised at what pharmacies now offer: personalised medicines advice, help to quit smoking and to maintain good sexual health, treatment for common ailments, advice on preventing disease. And more. It’s a package of care…not just packets of pills!
What’s more, pharmacies are part of the fabric of local communities. They provide local employment and are a health and social care asset close to where people live, work and shop.
In photo from left to right: Cllr Rob Elliston and former owner, Stephanie Vidler, Health Champion, Sally Atteridge Pharmacy Technician, Aled Locum Pharmacist, Huw Merriman MP for Bexhill and Battle and James Wood Community Pharmacy Surrey & Sussex.