The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has announced that the next Ask Your Pharmacist (AYP) Week will take place from 1st – 8th November 2021.
AYP Week provides a platform for pharmacy public awareness activities across the UK. It also serves as a prompt for conversations with key stakeholders at a local level about community pharmacy services.
During previous AYP Weeks:
- Pharmacies and NHS bodies have used social media and newspapers to signpost people to community pharmacy as the first port of call for common ailments
- Pharmacies have invited local dignitaries and politicians to visit for a health check and to learn more about the valuable services on offer
- NPA members have distributed leaflets about the range of services and skills in pharmacies, and appeared on radio talk shows
- Patient organisations and community groups have invited pharmacy staff to their meetings and webinars – to explain the evolving role of community pharmacy and how to make best use of local pharmacies.
NPA Head of Communications, Stephen Fishwick, said:
“The pandemic has given people a sense that pharmacies are capable of helping them in many ways that they, as patients, might not have previously imagined. Yet many people don’t know specifically what help is available in pharmacies, or how to access it. They may be missing out, because they are unaware that their specific health concern can be addressed effectively, conveniently and close to home, in their local pharmacy.
“Ask Your Pharmacist Week provides an annual platform for concentrated efforts to raise awareness of the skills and support available in pharmacies. However it is important that this kind of activity continues all year round too.”
More details will be published soon. Meanwhile, any NPA member or pharmacy stakeholders wishing to get involved should contact NPA Head of Communications, Stephen Fishwick [email protected]