Your local pharmacy is an integral part of every Australian neighbourhood or town.
It would be almost impossible to go through life without at least one visit to this vital service provider.
When I faced some serious health concerns a few years ago, my local pharmacist made sure to have my medicine ready to go when I needed it (it was very expensive and he couldn’t keep it in stock). He also provided a very good shoulder pat when I needed it most.
So sure, they hand out prescriptions and sympathy, but did you know your pharmacist can do so much more?
Here are some services they can provide:
Vaccinations
Many pharmacies can provide your annual flu, or a COVID vaccine, saving time and money on visiting a doctor. It’s especially good for remote and regional Australia where health services can be patchy and getting a doctor’s appointment hard.
Check out the Pharmacy Guild of Australia website to find a pharmacy offering vaccines near you.
Feeling wounded
Pharmacies can help you manage minor wounds and injuries, and show you how to apply dressings and pressure dressings. If you require specialist dressings, they will be able to order them for you.
Medication review
If you are worried about the prescription drugs in your house, pharmacists can conduct something called a Home Medicines Review. As it sounds, this involves assessing the medicines you have in your home to understand and manage your medicines and minimise harm.
After an initial interview, an accredited pharmacist will produce a Home Medicines Review report to help the patient and other allied health services develop a medication management plan.
Pharmacists also provide a similar service for residents in care facilities funded by the Australian government, known as a Residential Medication Management Review. It involves finding and preventing potential health problems that could be caused by medicines.
Health checks
If you have concerns about some basic health issues, often the pharmacy is a good place to start.
You can have your blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked, find help to quit smoking and help for other simple health conditions such as warts or head lice.
Baby steps
There are many simple conditions your baby may have that require a bit more support than supermarket brands.
Pharmacists can provide advice and products for conditions such as cradle cap, nappy rash, constipation, fever, pain and teething.
It’s also good just to have that one-on-one reassurance you are on the right track, which is something supermarkets or online shopping can’t provide.
Urinary tract infections
In Queensland, non-pregnant women aged 18 to 65 can access advice and treatment from their local pharmacist for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Treatment may include supplying antibiotics, or referral to a GP if needed.
Generic vs branded
There are considerable savings to be had from choosing generic medications. Your pharmacist will often offer you the choice and should be able to provide advice on which one is best for you.
Medication management
For a small fee, many pharmacies will sort your medication into day-by-day packs. This can be a vital service for customers who have limited support or find their medications confusing.
Out of date
Worried about any medications you think have expired or don’t want, or potentially dangerous medications in your house? Take them along to your local pharmacy, where they will dispose of them as part of the Return Unwanted Medicine Project.
Travel medication
There are some travel medications only available at your pharmacy. They should be able to advise which ones are best for you. And some painkillers are now only available at pharmacies, such as the stronger Panadol lines.
Hangovers
Yeah, they have medication for that. Drag your sorry self the day after and they will fix you up with hydrating tablets or salts, painkillers and a packet of those glucose jelly beans. You probably don’t need the jelly beans, but they may cheer you up anyway.
Do you have a good relationship with your local pharmacy? Were you aware they provided all these services? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: Controlling blood sugar levels with flower power
I have had experience with a Home Medication Review. It was a disappointment, all round. The pharmacist couldn’t spell the name of the medicines. Sufficient background checking on adverse reactions/side effects was lacking. The dosage of one medicine differed to what was on my container and what had been dispensed at the community pharmacy. The academy/school which trains these Home Medication Review pharmacists has no complaint/quality control procedure, as I was told when I reported my experience. The GP who referred me for this Home Medication Review claimed that some pharmacists undertaking such a review, gave very brief reports, just 3 words, ‘all was OK’. That’s not a suitable professional service. When I was offered a follow-up review, I declined, expressing my disappointment after the first review. These reviews are paid by Medicare, that means I was paying for a defective service/review.