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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) is encouraging individuals to visit their local pharmacy for the treatment of minor ailments to avoid unnecessary days off from work, save the NHS money and improve patient care. A new NPA poll revealed that 55 per cent of workers missed at least one day of work last year due to coughs, colds, and other minor illnesses. The survey, which involved over 2,000 patients and was conducted by Research without Barriers, found that 31 per cent of respondents were absent from work for 1-6 days, 15 per cent for a week, 12 per cent for two weeks and 3 per cent for three weeks. This polling is part of the NPA's Ask Your Pharmacist Week campaign, which aims to dispel common myths around minor ailments and encourage greater use of local pharmacies for medical treatment. In England, pharmacies can now provide NHS treatments for a range of common ailments through the Pharmacy First Service, including ear infections, impetigo, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, infected insect bites and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, 36 per cent of people surveyed were unaware of the Pharmacy First service, with 20 per cent believing such ailments could only be treated by their GP.

Brits are increasing relying on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to prevent or treat common ailments, as the 'care at home trend' has become prominent amongst UK households following the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost three-quarters of Brits (71 per cent) now choose to treat minor ailments at home rather than visit their GP or pharmacist, according to new research. The self-care message promoted by the government and NHS during the pandemic has led to a new generation of consumers who continue to take control of their own health and treat minor ailments themselves. Additionally, the research, commissioned by Lanes Health, revealed that public awareness about preventative treatment has increased, with 70 per cent of Brits claiming that they do their best to prevent the spread of common illnesses since the pandemic.

The Community Pharmacy Walk-In Consultation Service (WICS), offering treatment for various minor ailments, recorded 19,567 consultations in 2024. This marks a 61 per cent increase compared to the 12,138 consultations recorded in 2023, according to data released by Community Pharmacy Cornwall (CPC) and obtained by The Pharmaceutical Journal. Launched in community pharmacies across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in January 2021, the minor ailment scheme is commissioned by the NHS and CPC. It enables locally accredited community pharmacists to supply prescription-only-medicines (POMs) for the treatment of several common conditions utilising patient group directions (PGDs) that Pharmacy First does not currently cover. These include vaginal candidiasis (vaginal thrush), dermatitis, migraine, conjunctivitis, and emergency hormonal contraception. Since its launch, the service has facilitated over 38,000 consultations, with 80 per cent of them resulting in advice or treatment that concluded the consultation in the pharmacy. WICS data also indicates that the service has helped avoid an estimated 30,000 GP appointments and more than 500 inappropriate A&E visits since its inception.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England and the Royal College of General Practitioners have published recommendations for the roll-out and success of the GP Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (GP CPCS). These recommendations follow a workshop with stakeholders from pharmacy, general practice and representative bodies, examining ways to maximise the potential of the service and meet growing demand on the health service. The workshop report made five recommendations: The NHS England and Improvement should provide additional investment in local system support and resources to drive the CPCS implementation and uptake between general practice and community pharmacy. National representative bodies should work with NHS E&I to develop national and local engagement and streamline communication plans for CPCS referral pathway. Focus on expanding the role of community pharmacists in the management of minor illness. Evaluation of CPCS service and its impacts on general practice workload, patient outcomes and health inequalities.

As winter approaches, healthcare experts are urging the public to support the NHS by embracing self-care and turning to pharmacies for minor ailments and injuries to help ease the strain on the healthcare system. New research from PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, has revealed that nearly a quarter of Brits still don't consider self-care as a first option for easy-to-treat conditions. The research found that many younger adults lack the confidence in self-care that older adults possess. About 23 per cent of those aged 25 to 34 admitted they would seek a GP appointment for minor ailment or injury they could treat themselves, compared to just nine per cent of those aged 65 or older. For common conditions, 56 per cent visit their GP for a UTI, 27 per cent for thrush, 20 per cent for acne and 20 per cent for conjunctivitis. Michelle Riddalls, CEO of PAGB, emphasised that while awareness of the benefits of self-care, for both consumers and the health service, has increased as a result of educational outreach and activities such as Self-Care Week (18th-24th November 2024), there is still significant room for improvement. The PAGB data shows that only 18 per cent of people could recall seeing a news story or campaign promoting self-care in the previous year, though this rises to 29per cent for young adults (ages 18-24).

The much-awaited Pharmacy First service has been launched in England, enabling patients to get treatment for seven common conditions from their community pharmacists without needing to see a GP. According to NHS England, a total of 10,265 community pharmacies, which is equivalent to more than nine in ten community pharmacies in the country, will be offering the ground-breaking initiative. The new scheme allows highly trained pharmacists to give advice and prescription-only medicines for minor ailments including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65). With this major expansion of pharmacy services, the NHS is aiming to free up 10 million GP appointments a year while giving the public more choice in where and how they access care.

If you want to start your day feeling refreshed and energized, consider creating a daily regimen of ginger shots instead! Ginger shots are like taking ginger ale straight to the source. They give you all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your body needs to feel its best. These shots are beverages made from concentrated doses of ginger root (Zingiber officinale), which are asserted to aid in warding off sickness and strengthen your resilience against many health conditions. However, ginger shots just became prevalent recently in the wellness society; ginger brews have been used since ancient times to cure a host of ailments. While ginger presents unique health features, you may wonder whether sipping ginger shots is healthful. This article inspects ginger shots, including their potential health benefits, side effects, and preparation at home. Ginger Shots Ginger shots are potent drinks made with fresh ginger root. The ingredients used in the shot differ depending on the recipe you want to try. Some shots include only fresh ginger juice, while others comprise lemon juice, orange juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and/or manuka honey. You can make it at home by squeezing fresh ginger root juice or blending fresh, grated ginger with different juices, like lemon or orange. Now you can see that these shots are available pre-made or made to take away at juicers or health food stores. You can also beat them up at home by operating a juicer machine. For this, just add freshly grated ginger to citrus juice or mix a dash of ginger with other ingredients in a high-powered blending pot. You may find ginger shots spicy and unpleasant to drink owing to their high content of ginger roots. Hence, they're made in small amounts and generally drunk in one or two swigs. Ginger Root Ginger root has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese used it to treat stomach problems, colds, and inflammation. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH

Proprietary Association of Great Britain, PAGB - which represents manufacturers of branded over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, self-care medical devices and food supplements - on Tuesday (12 December) celebrated 40 years of reclassification of medicines. Expanding self-care for common ailments and minor injuries will not only help ease pressure on primary care services, but also provides significant potential savings for the NHS, the consumer healthcare association highlighted during the event. Nurofen (ibuprofen) and Imodium (loperamide) were the first medicines to go through Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)'s switch process in 1983 to make them available over the counter - OTC. Other reclassified medicines which were once available on prescription only include Voltarol (diclofenac dimethylammonium), Canesten (clotrimazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Nicorette, Nicotinell and Niquitin (nicotine replacement therapies), Regaine (minoxidil), Viagra Connect (sildenafil), Cialis Together (tadalafil) for erectile dysfunction and Gina (estradiol hemihydrate) for the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness.