Song encourages people to visit pharmacy before ED

An animated film have been produced as a part of a campaign to encourage people to visit pharmacies rather than emergency departments or GP surgeries

The Sound Doctor, a company which makes health and wellness animations used in many GP practices, has come up with The Pharmacy Song.

Its lyrics urge people with conditions, such as an ear infection, to see their pharmacist instead of attending a hospital or GP practice.

The animation highlights how emergency department staff and GPs treat over 60 million patients annually for relatively straightforward ailments such as a cold, blocked nose, insect bites and even dandruff.

£2 billion cost

It points out that these visits cost the NHS more than £2 billion in wasted time.

The Sound Doctor has a library of more than 300 films covering key areas of health including diabetes, back pain, dementia, heart failure and weight management surgery.

Its co-founder Rosie Runciman said: ‘The cost of these unnecessary visits is spiralling, but the problem is not just financial. If we can get more people to see their pharmacist first, we can give GPs and A&E staff more time to treat people with serious conditions.'

Watch the film

In other news

• RCN's Josie Irwin urges negotiators to be realistic as nursing pay and contract talks resume
• Longer GP hours ‘unlikely to ease burden on emergency departments’