Supported by


AWARDS HEALTH PROMOTION BANNSIDE PHARMACY, PORTGLENONE A


s a community pharmacy, which is totally focussed on the health and wellbeing of


its local community, the team at bannside Pharmacy are keen to involve patients in various programmes.


Last year, the pharmacy team decided to focus on a range of initiatives, which were designed to promote good health and wellbeing in Portglenone and outlying areas. First, the pharmacy turned its attention to various health issues, which were proving challenging for many of its patients. Among these issues were the fact that:


• Poor diet causes more disease than inactivity, smoking and alcohol combined


• Up to 40 per cent of those with a normal body mass index harbour metabolic abnormalities typically associated with obesity (including hypertension, dyslipidaemia, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease)


• Cardiorespiratory fitness is a modifiable indicator of long-term mortality, and health care professionals have been urged to encourage patients to achieve and maintain high levels of fitness


• Type 2 diabetes is now recognised as a preventable, reversible condition, caused primarily by an increase in insulin resistance as a result of poor lifestyle choices, especially in nutrition.


With regard to the diabetes issue, the pharmacy obtained funding to run a twelve-week programme entitled Portglenone Diabetes Partnership.


This was run for ten people with Type 2 diabetes with the aim of helping them achieve better control and/or reversal of their condition, provided that they were willing to make changes in their nutritional intake,


increase their physical activity levels and also manage their stress better.


Among the results of the Portglenone Diabetes Partnership programme were the fact that six out of the ten participants had a decrease in HbA1c to 6.5 per cent (48 mmol/mol) or lower, while seven out of ten had a clinically significant decrease in HbA1c by at least 0.5 per cent. In addition, one is now in remission, with HbA1c decreasing from 53 to 42 mmol/mol


With regard to the wider community – and on a positive note - the pharmacy team had noticed that there had been an increase in the number of people taking fitness training more seriously in the local area, participating in activities such as cycling, running, triathlons, gym training, Gaelic football, hurling, rugby and soccer.


As a result, many of the athletes were coming to the pharmacy to ask for advice on supplements to help optimise their performance, and so Eoghan and his team realised that they had a very important role to play in supporting them in continuing to do what is one of the most beneficial interventions for their health and wellbeing - ensuring that they are getting the fundamentals right first, since supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet.


As a result, in September 2018, the pharmacy organised an evening talk in the Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone with highly experienced English sports nutritionist Gareth Zeal. The talk was very well supported, with more than 70 people in attendance. Gareth offered free 20-minute nutrition consultations in the pharmacy treatment room that day for both staff and customers and, again, these were well supported.


Mark Lyonette, Chief Executive, National Pharmacy Association, with Eoghan O'Brien and the team from Bannside Pharmacy


Last year, the pharmacy team decided to focus on a range of initiatives, which were designed to promote good health and wellbeing in Portglenone and outlying areas


The consultations provided both staff and patients with better insight into nutritional changes and supplements that would be of benefit to everyone. As a result, the pharmacy has experienced a significant increase in its sales of supplements.


One patient, who gained particular benefit from the sessions, had come into the pharmacy earlier in the year feeling very tired and run-down, despite the fact that he was going to three Cross-fit and two spin classes a week.


The pharmacy team explained the importance of both not over-training


and also of ensuring that he was eating enough quality food.


He was sold an exercise recovery supplement - Platinum R4 - a Tri- Carb-blend, which restores muscle, glycogen whey isolate to repair damaged muscle tissue, glutamine and leucine for muscle recovery, and magnesium and electrolytes.


In May, the patient won the Two Peaks Challenge of the Man of Sperrin cycle race and reported feeling in better health and with more energy than he has had in years.


PHARMACY IN FOCUS - 39


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