The future of pharmacy services are up for debate as part of a new public consultation.
Health chiefs at Staffordshire County Council are hoping locals will discuss the role pharmacies could play in the region’s health provision in the future.
As part of the consultation, which runs until December 14, people are being asked how often they use their local pharmacy, why they go there and what extra services they would like to see offered.
Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, said it was important the service was meeting the needs of local people.
“Around seven million visits are made to pharmacies every year by Staffordshire residents and this makes them ideally placed to not only help people when they are ill, but to offer advice on staying well too,” he said.
“By supporting people through advice on medicines, managing a long-term condition or minor ailment, or advice on smoking, diet or contraception, they play a vital role in supporting people improve their health and importantly can ease the pressures on GP surgeries and A&E.
“We want to hear what people like and even what they don’t like and also what services they would like to see such as better diet advice or longer opening hours and really would encourage people to have their say.”
People can have their say on the Staffordshire County Council website.
