A Sussex pharmacy has been renamed as part of an NHS campaign to raise awareness about conditions that can be treated by local chemists.
Ringmer Pharmacy in Anchor Field has been rebranded to It Burns When I Pee Pharmacy to highlight that patients can now get treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections on their local high street.
Since January 31, community pharmacies have been able to assess and treat patients for seven common conditions, covering sinusitis, sore throat, earache for those aged one to 17, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated UTI in women aged 16 to 64.
The nationwide campaign aims to help patients get quicker access to the care they need and, along with new oral contraception and blood pressure services, will free up to 10 million GP appointments a year.
The campaign is highlighting certain illnesses that our chemists can help with and it is hoped this will help to ease pressure on our GP services.
Brijesh Thaker, community pharmacist at Ringmer Pharmacy, said: "I’m pleased to be supporting the NHS on this important campaign to raise awareness of the seven conditions that pharmacies can now treat. Ringmer Pharmacy has been renamed ‘It Burns When I Pee Pharmacy’ and there’s good reason for this.
"Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a minor, but common health concern locally and along with other conditions, such as sore throat, sinusitis and shingles, patients can now be treated and assessed at our pharmacy, without needing a GP appointment or prescription.
"These changes will help give our local community in Lewes more convenient ways to get help for minor health issues."
A recent Ipsos Mori study showed that the public identifies pharmacies as the organisation they would most likely go to if they needed information or advice about a minor health condition, but one in five say they do not normally contact or visit a community pharmacy.
The new campaign will run adverts across TV, on-demand services, radio, bus stops, billboards and social media, encouraging people to visit their high street pharmacy for common illnesses.
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