On 4th February 2019, NHS England launched a Help Us Help You ‘Pharmacy Advice’ campaign, which will position pharmacies as the first place to go to for advice on minor health concerns, such as coughs, colds, tummy troubles and aches and pains. It is anticipated that the campaign will run for 6 weeks until 17th March

Research shows that 27% of general practice appointments in England could potentially be treated elsewhere and approximately 18 million of these could be treated through self-care and community pharmacies*. This campaign seeks to address this by highlighting to the public the minor health concerns which can be treated by pharmacists as well as the services offered by their local pharmacy team (such as administration of flu jabs, advice on quitting smoking and how to take new medication.)

* Taken from ‘Making Time in General Practice’ report, commissioned by NHS England and published in October 2015.