Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK.

HPV is transmitted by intimate contact, including sexual intercourse and unfortunately condoms do not prevent HPV infection. Most people who have HPV are unaware they have it.

There are over 100 strains of HPV and around 40 of them affect the genital region. Some strains cause genital warts and others increase the risk of cancer including cervical, vaginal and penile cancers.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 years of age and account forr 2% of cancers in all women. HPV leads to changes in the cells of the cervix causing cancerous changes to occur.

HPV infection is found in over 99% of cervical cancer and over 70% are due to HPV types 16 and 18.

HPV can also lead to warts in the genital and anal region, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for over 90% of genital and anal warts.

We can screen for the most important strains of HPV including the high risks strains associated with cancer. This is done via highly accurate DNA testing on a swab and we can discuss with you how to manage positive results, including vaccination, if appropriate.

HPV Vaccine

For more information and to make an appointment please go to: https://www.citydoc.org.uk/hpv-vaccine-gp/

It is important that you take the right dose of your prescribed medicines at the right time each day to get the most from your medicines to control your condition(s) as much as possible. This can sometimes be difficult if you take more than one medicine. One way in which this can be made easier is for your medicines to be supplied in a Monitored Dosage System, which provides you with a separate compartment for each dosage time of the day.

A monitored dosage system (MDS) is a medication storage device designed to simplify the administration of solid oral dose medication, especially for those on multiple medications. It aims to address the issues of difficulty accessing medication due to sight impairment or other disability and/or forgetfulness.

MDS devices are usually a variation on the design of a box or a blister pack, divided into days of the week with several compartments per day to allow for the different timing of doses such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.

 Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for.

MDS may be suitable for patients in the following circumstances:

• You struggle to organise medications and find it difficult to remember to take them at the correct time each day
• You have a large number of medications to take each day
• You find it difficult to remove medication from its packaging
• You have a carer who helps you to ensure you take your medicines correctly.
  

Ask a member of our pharmacy team about whether this service would benefit you or whether there is another course of action, which may be of more help.

You can have a free NHS flu Jab at our pharmacy:
• If you are 50 years of age or over before 31 March 2022
• If you are pregnant
• If you are a carer

If you have certain medical conditions including:
• Asthma
• Chronic Respiratory Disease
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Kidney Disease
• Liver Disease
• Neurological Disease

We provide a needle exchange service where intravenous drug users can obtain clean  sterile needles and syringes and safely dispose of used needles and syringes.

This service is designed to prevent people sharing or re using needles.  It also reduces drug related harm and the transmission of blood borne bacterial and viral infections such as hepatitis B and C or HIV.

The service is lead by our Pharmacist in a non-judgemental manner and may lead to the user being referred to an appropriate drug treatment programme i.e. opioid substitute treatment in order to stop drug usage .  Our Pharmacist can also advise on minimising the harms caused by drugs and suggest further support and help.

• Complete and effective ordering of Medication and Appliances
• Fast and efficient Delivery Service
• Safe Storage of Medication
• Thorough Record Keeping for any Audit purposes
• Highly trained and experienced staff who understand the demands of a Nursing/Care home
• Medicines Use Review for your residents
• Help with training and development of your staff

We provide a palliative care service.  Palliative care drugs can sometimes be required quickly and this service ensures that there is appropriate access to a range of palliative care drugs, particularly outside of normal opening hours, and when treatment is needed urgently.

Many of the drugs used in palliative care are not usually used for other conditions and are often not stocked in community pharmacies.  As a  palliative care service provider we hold a stock of palliative care drugs for when needed right away.  The service is suitable for patients receiving palliative care and those providing their care.

We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:

• susceptible to colds and chest infections
• are self employed and unable to afford time off work
• would like to protect yourself from flu during peak season

This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.In our pharmacy we can do a test for a sore throat and consult for water infection and give antibiotics if appropriate-saving you an appointment with the GP.

How to treat a sore throat yourself

To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:

• gargle with warm salty water (children shouldn't try this)
• drink plenty of water – but avoid hot drinks
• eat cool or soft foods
• avoid smoking or smoky places
• suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but don't give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
• rest

To help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat you can:

• use paracetamol or ibuprofen
• use medicated lozenges or anaesthetic sprays (although there is little evidence they help)

You can buy them from our pharmacy without a prescription.

A pre-travel risk assessment provides a good opportunity to discuss travel-associated risk management with your pharmacist.

You'll need to contact us to arrange this, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before you leave. If your trip is sooner, contact us anyway as we may still be able to help and could provide vital health information.

During the assessment, we will:

• confirm if you're up-to-date with your routine immunisations
• assess your particular health risks
• recommend any vaccines and/or anti-malarial tablets you may need

We provide a vaccination service and a range of vaccinations are available, please contact the pharmacy for further details.

We can offer weight management help.  Pharmacists are ideally placed to help you manage your weight as they already provide many health services to customers, including stop smoking services, blood pressure and cholesterol measurements and general advice on nutrition and healthy living. Pharmacists also know when a weight problem can be managed in the pharmacy and when there is a medical problem that needs co-operation with the doctor.

Ask us for advice on how to get started.