Most of us visit our local pharmacist for one of two reasons. One – we need to get a medication script filled or two – we’re picking up miscellaneous supplies like shampoo, tissues or throat lozenges (especially at this time of the year when everyone is getting sick!) But what most people don’t realise is, most pharmacists can do far more than just stick a label on a bottle and dispense your prescriptions.
“Not only are pharmacists a wealth of information when it comes to medicine and health advice, we also provide a range of services the average person may not even know about,” says Belinda Nankivell, a community pharmacist.
And considering 95% of Australians live within 2.5 km of a pharmacy, it’s definitely worth being aware of these additional health services. Who knows, they may even save you a trip to the doctor! Here are 5 surprising services your local pharmacist may provide.
- MedsCheck
Pharmacists are readily available to help assist you to manage your medicines. They can provide a MedsCheck in the pharmacy to help give your tips and information to get the best out of your medicines. “Pharmacists appreciate your time to assist you on your healthcare journey to get the most out of your medicines,” says pharmacist Belinda Nankivell.
“A MedsCheck can be a very effective way of identifying issues with medicines or interactions and can help patients to minimise side effects that they might be experiencing.”
- Administer vaccinations
Thankfully, cold and flu season is almost over. But it’s worth knowing for next year that you don’t necessarily have to go to the doctor to get your flu jab. Trained pharmacists can administer the flu vaccine, as well as measles, mumps and rubella injections in some states. Chat to your local pharmacist to see which vaccinations are available.
- Hold your scripts
Misplacing your medical scripts can be expensive and inconvenient. That’s why it’s worth knowing you can ask your pharmacist to keep your script on file. That way, you can just come in, show ID and collect your medication. You’ll no longer have to fish that crumbled piece of paper out of your bedside table drawer! You can also set up a script reminder service with your pharmacist, where they contact you via text, phone mail or a mobile app to remind you it’s time to pick up your medication.
- Conduct health checks
While this varies across pharmacies, most are equipped to carry out a range of on-site health checks. This includes a blood pressure test, non-fasting cholesterol test, hearing check, blood sugar testing and weight management. These tests can help screen you for different conditions and play a vital role in helping your GP to provide a review on the results of your pharmacy health checks. Pharmacies provide a convenient opportunity to keep you healthy with these health checks.
- Dispose of your unwanted medicine
Research shows there are millions of unwanted and expired medicines sitting in homes across Australia. Many of us hold on to these purely because we don’t know how to get rid of them! However, keeping these unwanted medicines can create a significant risk of medicine mix-ups or accidental poisonings. Australia has a free service for people to dispose of their unwanted medicines safely via their local pharmacy.
“Make sure you go through your medicines around your home. It’s surprising how many might be out of date or that you don’t need anymore. Pharmacies are an accessible place for you to safely dispose of your unwanted or out of date medicines,’ says pharmacist Belinda Nankivell.
Return Unwanted Medicines (The RUM Project) is a national scheme where anyone can return their expired and unwanted medicines to any community pharmacy for safe and environmentally-friendly disposal. Go to your home medicine area and read the labels of your medicines and check expiry dates. Remove any medicines that are expired or your no longer need and place them in a container or bag. Return your unwanted medicines to your local pharmacy. Your pharmacist will then put them in a secure bin for safe disposal. It’s that easy! You can find out more about The Rum Project here.
Add Comment