Express Pharmacy

Are pharmacies the answer to the NHS crisis?

The NHS deals with over 1 million patients every 36 hours, and this number seems only set to rise. The total number of people visiting Accident & Emergency departments in 2017 was 23.372 million, which marks a rise of almost a quarter (23.5 per cent) over the last decade. NHS spending has also risen hugely in recent years. In 2017, net expenditure was £120.512 billion, which has increased from £78.881 billion in 2007.

It is clear from figures such as these that there is a huge amount of pressure on the NHS. This has led to a chronic access problem, meaning patients are having to wait for extended lengths of time to receive advice, diagnoses and treatment.

So what is the solution? Well, the National Pharmacy Association believes that the answer lies in placing more emphasis on pharmacies as a local healthcare service.

By allowing local pharmacies to flourish as centres of health and wellbeing for the surrounding community, the intense strain can be alleviated from the NHS as less people will rely on GPs and hospitals as a first port of call. This will also allow pharmacists to put their clinical skills to further use.

The See You Sooner campaign from the NPA aims to make this happen. They believe that local pharmacies should be people’s first and main contact for healthcare, dramatically improving access to treatment and advice.

What are the aims of ‘See You Sooner’?

The NPA’s See You Sooner campaign’s key aspirations are:

- There should be no unnecessary or avoidable barriers in place to receiving appropriate care in a timely fashion.

- No one should have to wait to see a doctor for the treatment of minor concerns like colds and coughs.

- People in all parts of the country should have the option to access health checks such as blood pressure at their local pharmacy. At the moment, there are only a few examples of commissioning health checks in local pharmacies.

- No one should have to wait to see a doctor for the routine management of their medicines for stable long term conditions. As an alternative, pharmacy workers should be fully supported in being able to understand, review and, if necessary, modify medicines as part of an integrated primary care team.

The aims of the NPA’s campaign are views shared by many NHS service users. In a survey of 1003 UK adults in March 2018 by RWB, 56 per cent of respondents agreed that NHS medicines review services in pharmacies should be expanded to help people with long term medical conditions to manage their medicines and to take pressure off the NHS. A further 35 per cent of respondents strongly agreed with this statement.

Online pharmacies provide immediate help and support

When we discuss the importance of local pharmacies, we can’t forget about the option of online pharmacies, which provide instant correspondence between healthcare professionals and individuals who may be unable to leave their home. Using an online pharmacy can provide convenient advice, diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of conditions, including those which patients may want to be treated more discreetly like hair loss or erectile dysfunction.

Express Pharmacy has been providing effective medication for a variety of conditions since 2009, and has now helped over 50,000 patients. Express Pharmacy also have a group of six NHS linked high street outlets in London, and each has a qualified pharmacist in-house.

If you’re in need of efficient and effective medical advice, contact the NHS-approved pharmacists at Express Pharmacy today. Call 0208 123 07 03 or use our discreet online live chat service.

We are delighted to have won the Gold Trusted Service Award 2018 from FEEFO. This is the most prestigious accolade available from the highly regarded independent review company.

We are thrilled with this achievement, which is a reflection of the hard work and dedication we put into maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction.

The Gold Trusted Service Award is given to a high quality, reliable business which has maintained a score of 4.5/5 or higher across at least fifty reviews. This shows the positive impact of our customer service, with a wide variety of medications simply and discreetly available through fast, effective and honest service.

In fact, Express pharmacy holds a 97% approval rating with FEEFO based one 1,022 reviews.

At Express Pharmacy we understand that sometimes seeing your GP can be difficult, whether it’s due to transport issues, getting an appointment or simply due to nerves or embarrassment. But we don’t believe that this should stop anyone from receiving the treatment they need. This is why our service covers many different health concerns and includes next day delivery, free consultations, and free prescriptions.

The Express Pharmacy treatment process involves just 3 steps: select your treatment, undergo a free consultation and head to the checkout. It’s that quick and simple.

FEEFO is a leading customer review provider, helping customers and businesses connect. Thanks to partnerships with Google, Yahoo and Bing, FEEFO provides genuine reviews to help businesses discover exactly what their audience expects from them.

FEEFO has won countless awards for their technology and services, including being featured in The Times’ Tech Track 100. They also have partnerships with other leading companies, including The Guardian, BBC News, Mashable and Tech Crunch.

Businesses such as T.K. Maxx, Iceland, Thomas Cook and The White Company all rely on FEEFO in their business. This makes the team at Express Pharmacy even prouder to have received their most prestigious accolade.

To experience Express Pharmacy’s award-winning service for yourself, why not order online today. If you wish to speak to a member of our team, we are contactable on 0208 123 07 03 or via our discreet Live Chat service.

Depression is a widespread condition throughout the UK which can affect you both emotionally and physically

This year in the UK, January 15th has acquired the title of ‘Blue Monday’, a title generally awarded to the third Monday in January.

Blue Monday refers to the day of the year when we are supposed to feel at our most down. Several factors are said to contribute to this conclusion, including the cold, dark weather, low finances following Christmas, general post-Christmas blues, failing New Year’s resolutions and generally low motivation.

So at this glum time of year, it’s important to reflect on the impact that conditions such as depression can have on our wellbeing — both physical and emotional. Understanding the condition can help you identify potential symptoms and seek the help and support you need.

What is depression?

Although we’re all set to feel a bit down on Blue Monday, depression is much more than simply feeling unhappy for a few days. The condition involves feeling persistently sad, negative and fatigued for weeks or months at a time.

Depression is a real health concern with real symptoms. It affects around 10% of people at some point in their lives, and research has even shown that around 4% of children in the UK aged 5 to 16 present symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, therapies and medications such as anti-depressants. These lifestyle changes can involve incorporating factors like exercise or self-care measures into your daily routine. The level of treatment prescribed is generally based on whether the depression is deemed mild, moderate or severe.

Depression can lead to a variety of symptoms, including persistently feeling low, experiencing stress or anxiety, or even feeling suicidal. The impact of depression on your mental health can also have an effect on your body.

Despite being a mental health condition, depression can lead to physical symptoms

The physical symptoms of depression most commonly involve feeling constantly tired, paired with poor sleep health. This can lead to sufferers taking refuge in unhealthy ‘comfort’ foods or poor health habits like smoking, and this lack of energy and physical activity can also lead to weight gain. However, for some people, depression can create a loss of appetite.

What’s more, depression has also been found to lead to aches and pains (often as a result of poor diet and exercise due to low energy) and a lack of a sex drive. In men, depression can lead to sexual health concerns such as erectile dysfunction.

The physical impact of depression can create a vicious cycle

When an individual suffers from depression and starts to experience physical symptoms as a result of the condition, it can create a vicious cycle by adding more fuel to the fire of their negative thoughts and feelings. Putting on weight or falling back on habits like smoking can reduce motivation even further and make those experiencing depression think that their feelings will only get worse rather than better.

Similarly, sexual health symptoms of depression can create increased stress and anxiety around the act of sexual intercourse, increasing the likelihood that conditions like erectile dysfunction will persist or even worsen.

If you think you might be experiencing depression, it’s hugely important to seek help and support in order to get to the root of the problem. Tackling any physical symptoms can also help to reduce the intensity of negative feelings. Effective medication for conditions like erectile dysfunction, excess weight and smoking are all available from Express Pharmacy.

Express Pharmacy can provide discreet advice and medication for a variety of health concerns. If you’re living with a condition we can help you with, don’t hesitate to get in touch today. Call Express Pharmacy on 0208 123 07 03 or use our online Live Chat service.

Flu season is fast approaching, so it’s important you have all the information you need about protecting yourself and others

Influenza, more commonly known as “the flu” is a nasty virus that is renowned for striking down thousands of people in the UK each year across. It is particularly potent in the autumn and winter months, which is why you are likely to hear a lot about the most vulnerable members of society going for a “flu jab” over the coming weeks.

However, there is often debate at this time of year about the effectiveness and safety of flu vaccinations. In this post, we will cover some of the most commonly asked questions about the flu jab, including who needs it most and who can get it for free this autumn.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

We’ve all probably experienced flu-like symptoms at some point. This is because problems such as a high temperature, hot and cold sweats, coughs and a runny nose can all be found in similar diseases such as the common cold.

It is important to note, however, that the flu does differ from a cold, and can be much more dangerous to your health. The symptoms usually include a high temperature, tiredness, weakness, achiness, general pains and a dry, chesty cough.

You might also suffer from headaches or even migraines.

Who is most at risk of the flu?

Certain people can find themselves more at risk of catching the flu than others, and these individuals are more likely to suffer longer and more extreme symptoms too.

Those who should be particularly aware of the flu include people aged 65 or over, pregnant women, individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma, people with a weakened immune system such as those with HIV or undergoing chemotherapy, and people with long-term medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease or kidney disease.

Who can get the flu jab for free?

The NHS offers free flu vaccinations to a number of different groups. These include any adult over the age of 65 or an individual who will be turning 65 on or before March 31^st 2018. Pregnant women can also receive the vaccine for free, as can children aged between six months and two years old who are considered to be at risk of the flu.

The flu vaccine is also offered to people with certain pre-existing health conditions such as:

• Asthma or another chronic respiratory disease
• Chronic heart disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic liver disease (e.g. Hepatitis) or kidney disease
• Chronic neurological conditions, including
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Parkinson’s Disease

Those with a BMI of 40 or above and can be considered seriously overweight may also be offered the flu jab.

When is the best time to get the flu jab?

Although many people don’t start thinking about the flu jab until winter, the optimum time to receive the jab is actually autumn. Specifically, you should aim to get your flu vaccination between the beginning of October and early November.

Where can you get your flu jab?

You can receive your NHS flu jab at your local GP surgery, or at any local pharmacy offering the service. If you’re pregnant, you can also receive the jab from your midwifery service if they include it as part of their treatment.

Individuals who are considered at risk of the flu can also receive the vaccine from certain community pharmacies. If you receive your jab at a pharmacy, you don’t have to inform your GP.

Does the flu jab have to be an injection?

Generally, the flu vaccination is given as an injection. However, children aged between two and three, children in reception class and children in school years on, two, three and four can obtain the vaccine as a routine annual nasal spray. This is also offered to children aged between two and seventeen who are at particular risk of flu.

Does the flu jab have any side effects?

The flu vaccination has an excellent safety record, and yet there are concerns among some people that it’s actually safer and healthier not to bother with the jab.

Despite common misconceptions, the flu jab cannot cause flu. A small percentage of recipients may experience some mild side effects, such as redness and swelling around the injection area, headache, fever, nausea and muscle aches. A very small number of people do actually experience an allergic reaction to the jab, as is the case with any vaccination. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, weakness, hives and swelling.

If you’ve ever experienced an allergic reaction to the flu shot, you should refrain from getting the vaccination again.

What else can you do to avoid the flu?

As a virus, flu is spread through the passing on of germs, so simple hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of the condition. Washing your hands thoroughly, avoiding touching things like handrails in public places and covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing are simple but effective ways to reduce the spread of the condition.

However, the flu vaccination is by far the most effective way to stop yourself catching the virus.

For information, advice and treatment for your health concerns, contact Express Pharmacy

You can call our team on 0208 123 0703 or email us at help@expresspharmacy.co.uk. You can even contact us via our Live Chat tool for quick and discreet advice and assistance.

New research suggests that virtual treatment could make all the difference when it comes to healthcare for elderly patients

The use of online pharmacies and virtual doctors has risen dramatically over recent years, with more and more people choosing to solve their medical concerns online rather than by visiting the GP’s office. But new research from the US has shown that the benefits of virtual doctors could be even greater than previously thought, particularly for providing virtual treatment for elderly patients.

What are the benefits of virtual doctors?

The University of Rochester in New York conducted a study, which discovered that virtual treatment for elderly patients can provide healthcare just as effectively as a real-life doctor.

The study analysed various versions of virtual healthcare, including an American program that uses video appointments to connect professionals with patients. This particular study focuses primarily on those living with Parkinson’s disease and connected neurologists to 195 Parkinson’s patients across the US.

The results of the study found that the care provided by virtual doctors proved to be just as effective as in-person visits to the doctor’s office, whilst saving patients on average 169 minutes and nearly 100 miles of travel distance per visit.

When considering virtual treatment for elderly patients, Parkinson’s is a good example of a condition that can be treatment remotely. However, virtual treatment has also been shown to be beneficial in treating other conditions like diabetes, pregnancy and sickness.

Lead author and professor of the study Ray Dorsey explained the benefits the experiment highlighted, saying: “Virtual house calls for chronic diseases like Parkinson’s are not only as effective as in-person care but broader adoption of this technology has the potential to expand access to patient centred care.

“We now have the ability to reach anyone, anywhere.”

Virtual treatment for elderly patients can make all the difference to those living with conditions like Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s can be a hugely debilitating disease for those living with it, and can lead to severe physical limitations. Sufferers often experience tremors in the limbs, difficulty moving, muscle tightness and a loss of balance. You’re unlikely to be able to drive with Parkinson’s and even walking for long distances can become difficult. All of these factors made the condition a good source for the university’s study into the benefits of virtual doctors.

Currently, Parkinson’s affects over 10 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to double in parts of the world where the population is ageing – such as the UK and US – by 2030. As the condition almost exclusively affects older adults, most patients live in more suburban areas, often with limited access to healthcare professionals. This, combined with the nature of the illness can make actually getting to an appointment difficult for older adults.

This leaves huge potential for virtual treatment for elderly patients to improve the care that those living with Parkinson’s and other conditions are receiving, as online healthcare allows those with limited mobility to access the care they need.

“We can shop, bank, make travel reservations, take classes, and buy groceries via the internet from the comfort of our own homes,” says Dorsey, “but too many patients still cannot access healthcare.”

It’s not just elderly patients who can reap the benefits of virtual doctors

The benefits of virtual doctors and other digital healthcare solutions, such as online pharmacies, stretch far beyond Parkinson’s patients and the elderly. Web-based treatments can benefit anybody who lives in a remote location or who is suffering with a health concern that they are too embarrassed to visit a GP about.

In need of fast, safe and discreet prescription medication direct to your door? Discover how Express Pharmacy can help you today.