The National Pharmacy Association has announced the theme for this year's 'Ask Your Pharmacist Week' campaign – ‘Meet Your Local Pharmacy Team’. The campaign, scheduled for October 30 to November 6, seeks to enhance awareness of pharmacy services and initiate dialogues with local stakeholders, highlighting the role and advantages of community pharmacy, the NPA said in a statement.
NPA has organised an array of promotional activities, spanning window displays, social media engagements, partnerships with patient groups, radio and TV interviews, and visits to pharmacies by local dignitaries and politicians during the week.
"AYP Week 2023 will acquaint individuals with the pharmacist's skill set and the broader community pharmacy workforce, showcasing their collaborative efforts in delivering a secure and efficient service, encompassing NHS clinical care," said Stephen Fishwick, NPA's Head of Communications. "As always, the NPA will furnish campaign resources for our members and other participants interested in engaging with this enduring initiative."
NPA members or pharmacy stakeholders wishing to get involved in 2023 campaign must contact Fishwick at s.fishwick@npa.co.uk.
In 1983, NPA introduced the 'Ask Your Pharmacist' campaign—an enduring tradition promoting year-round pharmacy work and culminating in 'Ask Your Pharmacist Week'. Since then, the collaborative initiative between the pharmacy body and the NHS has aimed to heighten public awareness of UK community pharmacy services and the pharmacist's role.
The theme of the 2022 campaign was 'Now at Your Local Pharmacy', which also underscored the introduction of new NHS services in community pharmacy within the last 2-3 years, along with the evolving landscape of pharmacy practice.
In July, the NPA released a medium-term prospectus for pharmacy services, aiming to reshape its role in NHS, while challenging conventional perspectives. After engaging with members for months on the clinical potential, the document, titled "Making Changes Meeting Needs," will be shared with King's Fund and Nuffield Trust, contributing to Community Pharmacy England's new future vision.
