Alison Blenkinsopp

Community pharmacies are often the first source for information and advice when health problems arise. Increasingly patients are being referred to pharmacists by other health care professionals through Pharmacy First and similar schemes. This book presents a decision-making framework along with ‘red flags’, ‘when to refer’ and evidence-based treatment recommendations. A unique feature is that case studies appear throughout, in which pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and patients describe assessment and treatment of a wide range of common problems. Highlights of this substantially updated tenth edition are: The addition of seven major sections covering the initial Pharmacy First scheme in England: acute otitis media (AOM); impetigo; infected insect bites; shingles; acute sinusitis; sore throat; and uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women. A changed book title to reflect the increasing remit of community pharmacy in disease prevention, with extended content on topics such as blood pressure measurement and shingles vaccination.‘The consultation’ expanded in a new chapter, including decisions about supplying antibiotics with a suggested framework to reflect antimicrobial stewardship. Pharmacy continuation of contraceptive pills and the Pharmacy Contraception service. Revisited and updated information on COVID-19 and long COVID in the light of the transition of COVID-19 to an endemic state. Practicing and Foundation trainee pharmacists, as well as undergraduate pharmacy students and many other healthcare professionals, will find Symptoms in the Pharmacy: A Guide to the Management of Common Illnesses and Disease Prevention invaluable.

A Thorough Guidebook for Assessing and Managing Common Symptoms and Illnesses Seen in the Pharmacy Pharmacies, and pharmacists, are often the first source for information and advice used by a patient when health problems arise. This book supports pharmacists to recognize symptoms, advise with confidence, and recommend appropriate treatment or referral, while also providing a comprehensive digest of common conditions ideal for both practical use and reference. Informed by the experiences and expertise of seasoned pharmacists and GPs, each chapter in the book provides pharmacists and their staff working in the community with a decision-making framework along with suggestions on “when to refer” contained within summary boxes. A unique feature of the book is that case studies are provided throughout, in which pharmacists, doctors, nurses and patients themselves describe assessment and treatment of a wide range of common problems. This 9th edition of the book also includes: Consideration of conducting pharmacy consultations remotely as well as in person in the pharmacyNew content on COVID-19 and Long-COVID in pharmacy practiceInformation about medicines recently reclassified for OTC supplyExpanded content on women’s health including information on desogestrel, menopause and incontinenceBroadening of the insomnia chapter to include consideration of mental health problems Increased content on non-drug treatment options and their supporting evidenceA summary of evidence sources at the end of each chapterDecision-making support for unique cases which involve ethical dilemmasPracticing and Foundation trainee pharmacists, as well as undergraduate pharmacy students and other healthcare professionals, will find Symptoms in the Pharmacy: A Guide to the Management of Common Illnesses invaluable when dealing with both common and obscure symptoms and illnesses.

"Self care is about people's attitudes and lifestyle, as well as what they can do to take care of themselves when they have a health problem. Supporting self care is about increasing people's confidence and self esteem, enabling them to take decisions about the sensible care of their health and avoiding triggering health problems. Although many people are already practising self care to some extent, there is a great deal more that they can do." - Ruth Chambers, Gill Wakley and Alison Blenkinsopp, in the Preface. Designed around the Department of Health's Working in Partnership Programme, this book is full of easy-to-implement advice for everyday use, promoting a positive approach to self care and demonstrating how smoothly it can be introduced and undertaken. "Supporting Self Care in Primary Care" encourages interactive professional learning and development, both individually and within a team, and highlights the importance and benefits of self care in the workplace. It is a self-contained text with tools and illustrative examples to aid comprehension, and includes a complementary web resource containing further tools and a training package. All healthcare professionals involved in commissioning or providing primary care to patients will find this practical guide invaluable, as will healthcare managers and health promotion specialists.

This book is an excellent review of health promotion in the context of the pharmacy practice. Since the publication of the first edition, major changes have taken place in the involvement of pharmacists in health promotion. Health promotion is now a core role for community (retail) pharmacist and health promotion is now taught as a core-subject in all schools of pharmacy. The misuse of drugs is now a greater problem than ever before and pharmacists need updating in this area. Pharmacists have the monopoly on sales of nicotine replacement therapy and are now the key group involved in opportunistic advice to those who want to stop smoking. The book aims to inform pharmacists about all major health issues such as the effects of smoking; nutrition; exercise; oral health; family planning; woman's' health; child health; travel health; alcohol and mental health. The authors show pharmacists what they can achieve in health promotion stressing the social and behavioural aspects. There are key chapters on the major health challenges facing the 21 Century, the social inequalities of health and health care, problems in achieving behavioural change, and the importance of good communication especially about risks. From reviews of the first edition: 'Pharmacists interested in health promotion - which should be all pharmacists -could hardly make a better start to updating their knowledge than to read this book and pass its messages onto their patients.' Community Pharmacy Quotable comments from cards: 'This book is ideal reading for pharmacists intending to expand their business in this area or students studying pharmacy practice'. Terry McGuire, Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast 'An excellent book for giving a review of areas of health promotion in which pharmacists can be actively involved.' Dr M Aslam, Director of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Nottingham