With the NHS under increasing pressure, especially right now as we move through the cold and flu season, the idea of sitting in a waiting room has little appeal for parents whose children are feeling under the weather. Luckily, there’s another place to find professional advice on children’s health matters - your local pharmacy.
From coughs and colds to lifestyle tips on healthy eating, exercise and mental health, you might be surprised by the breadth of knowledge you have access to when you speak to your community pharmacy team. Whether you’re looking for reassurance that you’re treating a fever the way you ought to be, or need to learn the best way to treat head lice, pharmacies are well-stocked with treatments and advice that will help you through your little one’s health concerns.
Offering up-to-date, practical know-how on childhood ailments and advice on everything from vitamin supplements to sugar content in medicines, pharmacy staff are trained to support their community in every way possible - and taking care of children and babies represents a large part of their expertise.
Keeping their shelves well-stocked with all the trimmings of child-care, from baby-friendly medicines to food and essentials, you can always pop into your local pharmacy for anything you might need, and receive professional advice on which products are the most appropriate for your child’s unique needs.
You can be confident that your pharmacy team will always offer independent, sensible support, and in an instance where your child or baby is in need of greater assistance, your pharmacist will help point you in the right direction, whether it’s recommending a local GP who can offer you something the pharmacy can’t, or signposting local services that can offer help with mental health, exercise and weight loss.
When you’re a working parent, it’s not easy to find the time for awkward appointments, which is another reason why your local pharmacy should be your first stop - there’s rarely a need to make an appointment with your pharmacist, so it’s a little easier to nip in at a time that’s convenient for you. If you’re just looking for advice, you may be able to get the help you need with a simple phone-call, where a conversation with your pharmacist might give you peace of mind. Many pharmacies also offer a private consultation room, if you’d like to share your concerns in a private space - you can find out whether that’s available using our pharmacist checking tool to help you find a pharmacy in your local area who have the facilities you’re looking for.
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Help take the pressure off the NHS at this difficult time by speaking to your pharmacist when your child or baby is feeling under the weather. Your local pharmacy team will give you the guidance you need to keep you and your family feeling well this winter.