Pharmacies are helping older people stay fit and healthy over winter in a new scheme launched in pharmacies across south west London.
Over-65s are being given support to ensure they are ‘winter fit’ at 120 pharmacies in a six-week pilot scheme.
The scheme, which is believed to be the first of its kind in London, aims to benefit from the strong relationships built up by pharmacists with members of their local community, often over many years.
Pharmacists, who are qualified healthcare professionals, see scores of local people every day, many of whom visit regularly to pick up repeat prescriptions, get vaccinated or help with minor illnesses like coughs, colds and skin rashes among other things.
During the trial, pharmacists will turn conversations with people in that age group into health and wellbeing support and advice to stay well in the colder months, which in turn contributes to easing the pressure on other NHS services such as A&E.
The scheme was made possible by a £175,000 grant from NHS South West London Integrated Care System Investment Fund.
Pharmacists develop great relationships so the idea of this scheme – the first of its kind in London”
Dr Catherine Heffernan, Director of Health Improvement for the NHS in south west London
Dr Catherine Heffernan, Director of Health Improvement for the NHS in south west London, said: “Pharmacists develop great relationships so the idea of this scheme – the first of its kind in London – is to give people aged 65 and over advice and information or to refer them to services provided by voluntary groups that keep them fit and healthy, reducing the chances of an A&E visit.
“They can get cost of living advice and information about warm banks, for example, while pharmacists may spot the signs of frailty or dementia – with people referred to support services.
“Or there may be an issue with loneliness. In south west London we have ‘chat cafes’ – at a shopping centre in Kingston, for instance, people can sit at certain tables and someone will come over and offer to talk.”
If the scheme proves successful, the aim is to roll it out further across south west London and widen the scope further by introducing social prescribing, which allows healthcare professionals to connect those in need to a range of community-led services.
The trial runs until the end of March.