This time of year, households are inevitably hit with an assortment of different ailments associated with the Winter months.
Hopefully, for most, these will be mild and pass quickly but our local pharmacy can be a place we begin to visit a bit more often than we’d like.
Community pharmacists are an untapped resource and can be a great source of support and advice in many instances. Here, we chat with Elaine Clarke, a Laois based pharmacist with many years of experience in community pharmacy.
Firstly, tell us what is the essence of community pharmacy? What does it mean to you?
Very simply, community pharmacy means serving the needs of the community that the pharmacy is in.
However, it means so much more as it involves understanding and responding to and being embedded in the community that you are serving.
For example; being aware of any illness or viruses that are in the local school so that you are aware of potential sickness in the community.
How are you finding this winter in comparison to 2020 and 2021 where Covid 19 very much dominated?
This winter there is a a lot more viruses and bacterial infections amongst children.
The season has started earlier than usual too. Whereas in previous years after Christmas might have been the start of the season this year the end of October beginning of November was very difficult for little ones with regards to sickness and illness.
Anecdotally, we are hearing that there is an emergence of common winter illnesses again such as RSV and the likes of chicken pox amongst children. Would your experience tally with this?
100% – you name it and it is out there. In the pharmacy we have also seen Scarlet Fever, Slapped Cheek and some children with influenza being admitted to hospital.
What are the most common complaints that you advise on during any given day?
Oh wow this is a very difficultly question and it is what I love about the work, no two days are the same!
At the moment, amongst children dry coughs and runny noses and amongst adults headaches and “cold and flus”
Do you find people are more likely to consult their local pharmacist post Covid?
During covid we were very accessible to patients and customers and were certainly the first port of call for a lot of people as GP’s were closed and a lot of the times pharmacies have longer opening hours.
We can help with a lot of ailments with over the counter items and so I would hope that in certain circumstances people would Consult us first but of course there are always situations where this is not practical.
What type of vaccines are currently available through your local pharmacy?
We firmly believe that prevention is better than cure so we offer all the vaccines that pharmacists are allowed to administer – COVID vaccines and boosters from 12 years old upwards, winter flu and children’s flu vaccines, pneumonia, shingles and travel vaccines on foot of a prescription for the vaccine.
Although not a vaccine we have also started to offer the vitamin b12 injection
What improvements have you seen in community pharmacy in recent times?
The change in classification of certain medicines from on prescription to over the counter has helped including emergency contraception although the main improvement has been the facility to administer vaccines namely winter flu and COVID
What would you like to see more of in community pharmacies in the future?
I would like to see more community pharmacies being allowed to participate in a minor ailments scheme, administering more vaccines including HPV and being allowed to prescribe oral contraceptives.
All of these initiatives are currently being administered by our colleagues in the UK and Europe.
Would you recommend pharmacy as a career?
I could be the wrong person to ask as I am obsessed with community pharmacy and everything it involves!! I’m a pharmacy nerd and proud of it!!
Have you a special area of interest within pharmacy?
How pharmacy can help young children and families, chronic diseases including diabetes and heart failure and of course vaccines!! I am also really interested in skin and the use of vitamins to help our wellness.
How do you find Laois as a county to work and run a business in?
Once I have a good cappuccino I am yours and The Willow Tree cafe in Rathdowney Golf Club does the best! In all seriousness though the people of Rathdowney have been immensely welcoming to me and all the girls in the pharmacy.
We hope we provide a good service in return!
Just for fun
Tea or coffee? No fun about it … coffee all the way. I’m ADDICTED!
Good book or good podcast? Good book, love turning the pages
Real Christmas tree or faux all the way? Faux with the smell of a real one!!
Elaine Clarke is a community pharmacist of Clarkes CarePlus Pharmacy in Rathdowney, Co Laois
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