Erewash self-care study launches heart risk assessment through pharmacies
Lifestyle packs are available from local pharmacies |
Community pharmacists in Erewash
Primary Care Trust are taking part in a new coronary heart disease risk assessment pilot launched this week.
The pilot is part of a self-care initiative developed by the Proprietary
Association of Great Britain.
“Heart-to-heart” forms part of the “Joining up self
care” study,
(PJ, 12 June 2004, p728), and is designed to help people in
the local community find out if they are at risk of coronary heart disease
and
take steps to reduce these risks.
Local people can pick up a heart-to-heart assessment guide from public
places such as libraries and answer simple health questions that categorise
their risk as being red, amber or green. The guide then directs people
to their local participating pharmacy to collect a lifestyle pack of
the corresponding colour. Pharmacists will then talk the customer through
appropriate diet and lifestyle advice, or refer them to a GP as necessary.
Ankish Patel, pharmacy manager at P. Williams Chemist in Ilkeston, Derbyshire,
is one of the pharmacists taking part in the programme. He told The
Journal that the pack also signposts customers to other local services such as
community education services and the local leisure centre. He explained
that the new programme links in with other PCT initiatives such as local
smoking cessation services.
The study is funded by the Government’s Working in Partnership
programme. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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