Community pharmacy is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring people in Colchester have convenient walk-in access to the healthcare support and advice they need.
Pharmacies are not simply places to collect prescriptions, they provide a wide range of services and are the third pillar of access to primary care alongside GPs and A&E. I would urge people to think pharmacy first if they have a minor ailment; need advice on taking their medication; want to stop smoking or want to check their blood pressure.
The pharmacy team at Rowlands Pharmacy on Nayland Road are doing a fantastic job and I admire their dedication. At a national level, the government is looking at how the role of pharmacy could be extended in the years ahead.