NHS invites residents to share pharmacy experiences
RESIDENTS across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being encouraged to share their experiences of using local community pharmacies for common health issues over the recent winter months, which saw appropriately 40,000 people in the region access the Pharmacy First service for advice and treatment.
Community pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can provide expert advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses, from coughs and colds to insect bites and minor skin issues. They offer prescription medication for seven common conditions, without the need to see a GP to get treatment and leads to reduced pressures.
The NHS Hampshire & IOW have now launched a short survey about how they use their local pharmacy for minor illnesses to help shape how local pharmacy services work. It features five questions across three pages (plus some questions About You) and takes around five minutes to complete.
Neil Hardy, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Hampshire & IOW, said: “Community pharmacies play a vital role in providing accessible care close to home. To help strengthen and improve these services further, we are inviting residents to complete a short online survey about how they use their local pharmacy for minor illnesses and their awareness of the advice and treatments available.”
The survey is due to close on March 22nd and will directly inform future improvements to pharmacy services across the area covering Hampshire, as well as the Isle of Wight. Results will be shared through the trust’s Insights Library by April 2026.
Around 10,000 patients each month are choosing Pharmacy First as their first point of contact for advice and treatment, helping to ease pressure on GP practices and urgent care services.
James Roach, Director of Primary Care and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Community pharmacies are the most accessible part of our NHS and remain at the heart of local communities and the high street. We are committed to evolving this model as part of a modern, integrated Primary Care system that makes it easier for people to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Residents can take the survey via this online link, whilst they can find their nearest pharmacy by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy/.
PICTURED BY NHS HAMPSHIRE & IOW: Residents in the region have been urged to complete a short survey about their pharmacy experiences during the recent winter months
