In a study of 2,000 people, 82% percent were found to be living with a minor health condition. Back-pain, headache and hayfever are among the minor ailments that people are likely to ignore or suffer quietly rather than speaking to a medical professional - some people in the study were experiencing four conditions at the same time. The research showed that 59% of people with minor health concerns were suffering from ‘significant discomfort or pain’, and two-fifths were struggling to sleep, with a fifth unable to work as a result of their discomfort.

With the NHS under pressure and reports of waiting times at the local GP tending towards the alarming, it’s easy to understand why people are waiting for their symptoms to go away by themselves. But many aren’t recognising the value of their local pharmacy. In fact, 43% of the people in that study said they had never considered going to a pharmacy to talk about their conditions.

“As pharmacists, we can often be overlooked when it comes to the first point of call for our customers and patients,” said Farah Ali , a superintendent pharmacist. “We need to play a better role in showcasing how we can better help our customers with our training in self-care advice and in-pharmacy solutions, so that minor issues and ailments can be easily remedied and do not affect quality of life in our communities.”

You might be surprised by the long list of minor ailments that your local pharmacy team will be capable of discussing with you. Thanks to extensive training, your pharmacist is likely to be able to identify what it is that’s causing you discomfort, and may be able to provide you with over-the-counter solutions that can ease your symptoms.

Pharmacists are able to give treatment advice about a range of common conditions and minor injuries, including:

• Aches and pains

• Sore throat

• Coughs

• Colds

• Flu

• Earache

• Cystitis

• Skin rashes

• Teething

• Red eye

Pharmacists are also well-equipped within communities to discuss sensitive issues, thanks to the consultation rooms that are available in many branches, where patients can express concerns they might be self-conscious about, in a judgement free space. In many pharmacies, an appointment can be made on request, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Some local pharmacies can help you find other services that they might offer, including emergency contraception and sexual health screenings; asthma advice, advice on weight management, smoking and alcohol intake; and blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing.

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Pop into your local pharmacy today to discuss any minor illnesses or ailments you’ve been putting off - getting them checked early can save you a lot more discomfort down the line, and your community pharmacy team are trained to ensure you get the help you need.