Page 9 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • February 2010 9
PALS for patients in need Redhouse pharmacy grows as residents
discover village centre convenience
Up to 1,500 people every year contact a free confidential health infor-
mation service run by Swindon Primary Care Trust (PCT).
The mayor of Swindon David Wren officially opened the new pharmacy
Their Patient Advice Liaison team and if you call you will get
Service (PALS) is funded by the one of them - not an automated at Redhouse Village Centre, opposite the front entrance to Isambard
Community School on 19 January.
NHS and offers a friendly ear, service. If the phone is busy, you
help and advice via phone, email can leave your contact details on the
or face to face. voicemail and someone will contact
Head of the PCT PALS (there are you. Similarly, if you drop in you
other PALS within the NHS) Annie will be able to speak to someone
Naji explained, “we were set up to there and then.
help patients, and people using our Annie added, “we do get compli-
services. Come to us if you have ments but generally people want
any problems, need advice about something sorted out, that could
health care, or if you need to know be about waiting times, about staff
how to get an NHS dentist, or how treatment, about care. PALS gives
to change your GP.” people a chance to talk to someone
There are three people on the who is friendly and impartial, who
will listen to their concerns about
their healthcare and help to solve
Breaking any problems they might be expe- The Mayor gets help from Red Oaks nursery children
riencing.”
Free sues, PALS uses the opportunity to ness in early November, is the first tions, over the counter medication,
As well as resolving personal is-
The outlet, which started busi-
people’s doorsteps for prescrip-
take feedback to improve services. in Swindon to be opened by the health products and toiletries.”
A free and confidential support Annie said, “we work with our staff Day Lewis Pharmacy Group, the He added that the heavy rain
project for women survivors to make sure services are as good as UKs largest chain of independent before Christmas and the snow
Breaking Free is run by female survivors/ they can be. The information we get pharmacies. afterwards had not put off the staff.
trained counsellors providing a support project we use - anonymously - to improve Richard King, who lives in the “We’ve been providing a compre-
for females 18 plus surviving emotional, service areas.” town and represents the company, hensive collection and delivery
physical, sexual abuse, rape. PALS is located at Swindon PCT, said, “we’ve been very well received service to the elderly and infirm
Helpline open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday North Swindon District Centre, by the community since opening, living in the area which has been
Thamesdown Drive and is open particularly by staff and parents vital for those unable to get out.
07547 680839 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. from Isambard Community School Sri Kantamneni, our pharmacist,
Email: [email protected] To contact them call 708758 or and Red Oaks Primary School. has also developed an excellent
159 Victoria Hill, Old Town, Swindon SN1 3BU mail: palscomments@swindon-pct. “Convenient local services are relationship with local healthcare
www.breaking3femalesupportgroup.co.uk nhs.uk very important. We’re right on professionals.”

New Pharmacy
New Pharmacy

Now Open
Now Open

Unit 1 Greencote House
Isambard Way
Your new Day Lewis pharmacy is now open Redhouse Village Centre
for all your healthcare needs. Swindon SN25 2NT
Tel: 01793 737123
Our Services
We are committed to improving the health of the local Opening Hours
community and provide the following healthcare services: Monday – Friday
9.00am – 6.00pm
Prescription Quit Smoking Blood Pressure Blood Glucose Saturday
Collection and Clinic Monitoring Monitoring 9.00am – 1.00pm
Delivery We run a free quit High blood pressure Diabetes is reaching
We will collect your smoking clinic to greatly increases epidemic proportions
prescription from the help you kick the your chances of in the UK.
surgery, make it up habit. heart attack or Use our free service
and deliver it to you stroke. to get your blood
at home – saving A one to one glucose levels
you time and hassle. consultation with Our free monitoring
the pharmacist is service will help you measured and avoid
You can either followed by weekly keep an eye on your becoming one of the
register in store or support sessions. blood pressure. “undiagnosed half
call us to sign up to million”.
the service.

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