A COMMUNITY Pharmacy Minor Ailment Scheme to improve patient access to medication has been launched by the NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) at Staveley Pharmacy.
The scheme allows patients that are exempt from paying for their prescriptions to access a range of basic medicines to help them self-manage minor ailments such as coughs, colds, athlete’s foot, head lice, indigestion and sickness.
Staveley pharmacist Anothai Chareunsy said local pharmacies were increasingly becoming the first port of call for people seeking professional advice or treatment for minor ailments.
Dr Julia Smith, from Park View Surgery in Milnthorpe, said: “This scheme is great news for patients and encourages them to use their local pharmacy to access a wide range of basic medicines and helpful advice from the pharmacist. This new improved way of working will reduce demand for GP appointments and makes the best use of the health resources we have."
Twenty-nine pharmacies across South Lakeland are part of the scheme and a full list of participating pharmacies is available on the NHS Cumbria CCG website at www.cumbria.ccg.nhs.uk.
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