RAISING AWARENESS THIS MONTH IN HEALTH


Each edition, our guide highlights some key health awareness days and weeks in the UK, giving pharmacies practical ways to engage patients, improve health outcomes and boost their local presence. From screening and advice to educational campaigns, explore ways to make a meaningful impact for your patients.


Key Dates in November


World Diabetes Day November 14


• Create a quiz on social media or in branch to highlight whether patients could be at risk from diabetes.


• Run a diabetes awareness day with information and resources, physical activity advice, medication advice, foot care information etc.


• Start a sugar swap challenge for customers with examples of how to switch.


• On social media run an “ask the pharmacist - diabetes edition” where the pharmacist posts a video outlining key issues relating to diabetes and medication.


Access more resources and ideas at: worlddiabetesday.org


World AMR Awareness Week Runs between November 18 and 24


• Create an antibiotic myth buster campaign for social media eg. Myth: Antibiotics treat colds. Fact: Most colds are caused by a virus so antibiotics won’t help.


• Run an antibiotic return campaign in branch. Encourage patients with leftover antibiotics to bring them back into pharmacy.


• Promote the pharmacy team’s role in common infection consultations and self care advice under the campaign-heading “Ask us about your infection”.


• Have a QR code in-store allowing staff/ customers to find out more and make an Antibiotic Guardian Pledge.


Access more resources and ideas at: who.int/campaigns


Self-Care Week Runs between November 16 and 22


• Run an “Ask Your Pharmacist First” campaign. Create posters / social posts around illnesses like coughs and colds, sore throats, headaches.


• Create a self-care display in branch for common conditions. You could include pain relief, cough and cold remedies, skin care and digestive health.


• Run a medicine cabinet MOT campaign and ask patients to check expiry dates, dispose of unwanted medication safely and check essential medicines haven’t run out.


• Run a self-care pop up in the pharmacy where you could provide healthy lifestyle advice or answer medication questions.


Access more resources and ideas at: selfcareforum.org/events/self-care-week


Key Dates in December


World AIDS Day December 1


HIV/AIDS Awareness month Runs throughout December


• Run an “HIV- know the facts campaign” where you create a series of short factual social posts for example - HIV can be treated effectively, testing is the only way to know your HIV status.


• Promote HIV testing through the branch and social media. Signpost to local NHS or specialist testing services.


• Raise awareness about PrEP explaining what it is, who it is for and signpost to how it can be accessed.


• Position the pharmacist as a confidential and non-judgemental place to ask questions about sexual health medicines.


• Create a red ribbon pharmacy display to raise awareness.


Find more resources and ideas at: worldaidsday.org


International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 3


• Carry out an internal accessibility audit and then share any improvements you are making for example - seating, clear signage, hearing support.


• Run a “did you know” campaign on social media for example - did you know you can ask our pharmacy team for reasonable adjustments to help you access our services.


• Invite patients with disabilities to tell you what would make their experience easier.


• Talk to patients about how they can discuss any difficulties they have with medicines - opening medicine packs, reading labels, swallowing medicines, remembering doses etc.


• Run a “Not all disabilities are visible” campaign on social media and highlight invisible disabilities.


Find more resources and ideas here: who.int/campaigns/international-day- of-persons-with-disabilities


Cervical Cancer Awareness Week Runs during the last week in January


• Create an in-store display and social posts reminding eligible people to attend cervical screening.


• Create a series of social media posts around screening - how often do I need screening, what does screening check for.


• Run a HPV awareness campaign and highlight five things that patients should know.


• Run a screening saves lives campaign highlighting information about screening and HPV.


• Promote information about HPV vaccination - who is eligible and how to access.


Find more resources and ideas here: macmillan.org.uk/cancer-awareness/


pharmacyinfocus.co.uk 11 Key Dates in January


Dry January Runs throughout January


• Offer Dry January health checks and talk to patients about alcohol intake, blood pressure, healthy lifestyle and general wellbeing.


• Create a simple in-store or social media quiz encouraging people to think about their alcohol intake. You could have a QR code linking to an alcohol units calculator and information about lower risk drinking.


• Create a January challenge diary with goals for each milestone eg. Day 7 - how is your sleep, Day 21 - keep going, you’re nearly there.


• Run a social media campaign outlining what happens when you reduce your alcohol intake - better sleep, more energy, financial savings.


• Run social media posts detailing how alcohol can interact with certain medications. Encourage patients to speak to the pharmacist about specific medicines rather than giving blanket advice.


Find more resources and ideas here: alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/


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