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Sefton residents are being reminded they can get expert advice about any minor health concerns they may have from their local pharmacy, saving them a trip to their doctor’s surgery.

That’s the message from health commissioners in the borough as part of the latest phase of the national ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign, focusing on the range of services and support available from pharmacies.

Pharmacy teams offer a fast and convenient clinical service for minor health concerns with no appointment needed and use of a private consultation room should it be required.

Susanne Lynch, head of medicines management at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG said: “I urge everyone to make full use of their local pharmacist all year round; they use their clinical expertise together with their practical knowledge to give you the best advice.

“Health services can often become really busy and overstretched over winter. By visiting your local pharmacy with any minor health concerns, you will avoid waiting for an appointment.

“Our pharmacists can advise you on what over the counter medicines you may need in this cold weather and let you know about any side effects of medication so it is beneficial to ask their advice.”

According to NHS England 27 per cent of GP appointments in England could potentially be treated elsewhere. You can simply walk into your pharmacy, without an appointment and they will be able to offer you advice.

Help us, help you, before it gets worse. Visit www.nhs.uk/pharmacyadvice for more information.

Parents, people with a disability and older people are now finding it easier to get in to Maghull Health Centre after automatic doors have been fitted.

Local patient consumer champion, Healthwatch Sefton, has worked in partnership with the NHS to resolve the daily problem of accessing the centre after it was raised as an issue by patients during engagement work.

“Through a series of Enter & View visits to the health centre we listened to what people thought of the community services and, among other things, it kept coming up that they had difficulty using the double sets of doors to enter the building,” explained Wendy Andersen, Engagement Manager with Healthwatch Sefton.

Following their feedback reports, Healthwatch Sefton was in dialogue with the various NHS agencies over remedies to the situation and it was finally resolved in January when the automatic doors were installed.

The news has gone down a treat with local patient and wheelchair user, Jonathan Desmond, who also brought the issue to Maurice Byrne, Healthwatch Sefton locality representative for Maghull early on. He said: “The automatic doors are great and mean it is easier to use the centre.”

It is not only patients feeling the benefit because Gaynor Ferguson, receptionist at the centre, explained: “From a staff point of view it has made our jobs better because we no longer have to hold doors open for people which means we can get around quicker.

“I think it makes the centre feel more modern and that’s given us a nice boost. But it’s also better from a hygiene perspective.”

Wendy commented: “Thanks go to all those who spoke to us about this and other community services issues. And thanks also to the various NHS agencies we spoke to and helped to resolve the situation.”

To view the full Maghull Health Centre reports visit: www.healthwatchsefton.co.uk and to contact Healthwatch Sefton ring 0800 206 1304.