Campaign for parents to use pharmacies if children have minor illnesses

Waterlooville GP Dr Alastair Bateman is promoting the message as part of NHS England’s Stay Well Pharmacy campaign.

The 12-week campaign encourages people, especially parents and carers, to visit their pharmacy first for clinical advice for minor health concerns such as sore throats, coughs, colds, tummy troubles, teething and aches and pains.

Dr Bateman, prescribing lead for Fareham and Gosport and south eastern Hampshire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), said: ‘It’s often a parent’s instinct to reach for the phone and call their GP surgery if their child feels unwell.

‘If they are really poorly we wouldn’t have it any other way.

‘But a pharmacy is a great resource, not just for parents but for any member of the family if they need help, advice or support.

‘Pharmacists are trained in managing minor illness and can assess symptoms and recommend the best course of treatment or simply provide reassurance.’

Using a pharmacy for minor health concerns helps free up GP time for more urgent appointments and helps reduce non-emergency A&E visits.