Why do we need Health Plus Pharmacy?

Aim To provide an overview of how Health + Pharmacy can contribute to public health in Northern Ireland

Learning outcomes List the public health issues in Northern Ireland Outline the role of a Health + pharmacy Describe examples of public health services a Health + pharmacy can deliver Understand factors contributing to health inequalities Recognise how engaging with your community is important in starting to influence public health Identify the challenges of changing behaviour See brief advice and brief interventions as key elements in ‘making every contact count’.

Learning outcomes List the public health issues in Northern Ireland Outline the role of a Health + pharmacy Describe examples of public health services a Health + pharmacy can deliver Understand factors contributing to health inequalities Recognise how engaging with your community is important in starting to influence public health Identify the challenges of changing behaviour See brief advice and brief interventions as key elements in ‘making every contact count’.

Community pharmacies are … visited by 123,000 people in Northern Ireland each day open, accessible, convenient, in the heart of communities often the first point of contact as they are trusted and approachable professionals

Recommendation 7 ‘An expanded role for community pharmacy in the arena of health promotion both in pharmacies and in the community’

The public health issues in NI Life expectancy is lower in NI than in the rest of UK with the exception of Scotland Life expectancy reduced by smoking, obesity, drug and alcohol misuse and poor mental health Coronary Heart disease, cancer and respiratory disease are the main causes of death The alcohol related death rate in the most deprived area is almost 9 times that in the least deprived At any one time, one in five adults in Northern Ireland have a mental health condition (anxiety/depression)

The public health issues in NI Obesity reduces life expectancy by up to 9 years In Northern Ireland 59% of adults were either overweight (36%) or obese (23%) In children aged 8-15 years 8% were obese Smoking remains the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death Smoking kills around 2,300 people per year in Northern Ireland – one third from lung cancer) More people die in disadvantaged areas as a result of smoking than in more affluent areas

Effects of inequality in NI

By engaging with disadvantaged communities we can …. improve uptake of services improve access to services increase knowledge increase referral/ signposting improve use of medicines improve health and wellbeing

Health + Pharmacy model Delivers a broad range of public health services Promote healthy living and wellbeing Healthy living ethos is reflected in the staff and pharmacy premises At least one non-pharmacist staff member acts as the Well Being Advisor The pharmacy team is proactive in making every interaction count A Health + pharmacy is easily recognisable to the public and other healthcare professionals

Health + Pharmacy services