Press Release
19 September 2007
Obesity to be tackled in the High Street
PHARMACIES across Coventry have been mobilised in the fight against rising obesity levels in the city.
An innovative partnership between Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust and 10 community pharmacies aims to help people to help themselves lose weight and improve their health.
The project is actively supported by UniChem in conjunction with the Department of Health and associates from the Pharmaceutical Industry, and will commence with a 12-month pilot scheme to be launched this month. The pilot scheme will initially involve 10 community pharmacies and some 150 patients across the Coventry area.
The aim of the programme is to provide a weight management service for patients with a Body Mass Index of 30-35, with at least one diagnosed or established risk factor. Risk factors can include Hypertension, Type-2 Diabetes, Hyperlipidaemia or an increased waist circumference (male 102cm/40ins & female 88cm/35ins).
The schemes objectives will be to:
· facilitate a weight loss of at least 5% in obese patients
· identify obese patients “at risk" of developing long term conditions
· educate patients in healthy living and lifestyle changes nutrition, diet and exercise
· explore the role of community pharmacists in the Primary Health Care team
In commencement of the scheme a training day is to be held on 10th January 2007, at the Hilton Hotel, Coventry. The day offers pharmacists involved a full introduction to the scheme, providing background to the programme as well as formal training seminars, case studies and Q&A sessions, conducted by Dr Terry Maguire and UniChem Professional Services. The event is to be opened by Gul Root, Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health and Mike Attwood, Joint Chief Executive, Coventry PCT.
City pharmacist John Goes, of J.P Goes Pharmacy, Coventry, believes the scheme will be a great opportunity for pharmacies to be seen in a more integral healthcare role.
He said: “This project is a wonderful opportunity for pharmacy and pharmacists to be seen as part of the healthcare team. We welcome the opportunity to work together with the PCT, GPs and allied health professionals to improve the quality of health for the people that really matter e.g. patients with long term conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Also commenting on the scheme, Meera Sharma, Professional Services Manager, UniChem, said: “UniChem is pleased to be collaborating with Coventry PCT in the development of this weight management programme, to support all community pharmacy with our innovative health improvement programmes including Diabetes and CHD. We hope that in the future pharmacies continue to use programmes such as this, to maximise the opportunities that the community pharmacy contract brings.”
Laurence Tressler, deputy head of medicines management at Coventry PCT, said: “We have 82 community pharmacies in Coventry and as the name suggests these are appropriately situated, in the community, to play a central role in providing advice and ongoing support for overweight and obese people.
“Community pharmacists are an integral part of the primary healthcare team but it has been widely recognised that better use can be made of their skills and knowledge. With the introduction of a new national contract for community pharmacy last year this is now happening. We hope this project will be a huge success and really make a difference to the rising obesity rates in Coventry. “
Each pharmacy will recruit 10-15 patients meeting the service inclusion criteria. The pharmacist will then monitor the patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol, waist circumference and other factors including an assessment of lifestyle, diet and physical activity.
Each service user will attend eleven consultations over a twelve month period during which they will be offered practical guidance and support tailored to their own individual need in relation to lifestyle management.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Simon Dudman, Communications Manager, Coventry PCT, (024) 7624 6076
Sanam Conway, Communications Executive, UniChem, 0208 974 4045
Helena Bate, Communications Manager, UniChem, 0208 974 4044
Editors notes:
1. The 10 Pharmacies that have been recruited for the initial pilot are:
MOUNT NOD PHARMACY / 126 Sutherland AvenueBOOTS THE CHEMIST / 49 The Precinct
DHALIWAL LTD / 17 Station Street East
IMPERIUN PHARMACY / 1 Wheelwright Lane
JP GOES PHARMACY / 475 Holyhead Road
LLOYDS PHARMACY / Jubilee Crescent
MEDI-CARE PHARMACY / 15a Chace Avenue
MONARCH CHEMISTS LTD / 318 Radford Road
ALLIANCE PHARMACY / Stoney Stanton Road
RINGWOOD PHARMACY / Ringwood Highway
2. The associates from the Pharmaceutical Industry working in conjunction with UniChem are as follows:
· Sanofi-aventis
· A Menarini
· Omron
· Seca Scales
· BHR Pharmaceuticals