It is estimated that 20% of GP consultations over the winter period are related to minor ailments, including cold and flu symptoms and cost the NHS around £370 million a year⁴ . Suffering from a cold and cough over this period can be uncomfortable, but these minor ailments rarely need a visit to the doctor or out of hours services.

But during the winter season many people still present at A&E departments and GP surgeries with conditions and minor self-limiting ailments when they could get the support, advice and treatment they need at their local community pharmacy.

So community pharmacy has an important role to help the local community, understand how to access the most appropriate services and healthcare professionals, to ensure they get the right help and advice they need in the most timely and appropriate way to help them stay well during the colder months

This can be achieved through 

• Supporting NHS Winter Health Campaigns
• Ensuring all members of the team understand the important role they have supporting customers and patients - encourage them to complete the Counter Excellence Winter Health Module
• Delivering a Winter Health Promotion event in your pharmacy to raise awareness of the support you can offer - professional advice, access to a range of products and the service provided within your pharmacy. Support on offering a health promotion can be found on NumarkNet
• Offering a private Winter Health Clinic. Offering customers convenient access to prescription only medication for prevention of treatment of winter illness, where appropraite - More information on the private services will be covered later in this module