Community pharmacies have highlighted their role as a vital first port of call for health issues.

As part of the National Pharmacy Association's 'Ask Your Pharmacist Week', which runs from November 4 to November 11, pharmacies across Northern Ireland are urging people to make use of the clinical expertise accessible locally without an appointment.

The campaign comes amid ongoing difficulties in accessing GP and emergency department services, making the role of community pharmacies more important than ever.

Joe McAleer from Belcoo Pharmacy said: "Patients have access to a health professional in the form of a highly trained team of clinical experts in their community pharmacy.

"We train for five years, learning about the use of medicines to treat disease and diagnosing common illnesses, and we are continually developing our knowledge and skills."

He emphasised that many everyday health conditions can be treated promptly without the need for a GP visit.

However, Mr McAleer assured that pharmacists are well-equipped to identify signs of severe illness and will refer patients to a doctor or other suitable healthcare professional if necessary.

"There have been many cases where a pharmacist has spotted signs of something which needed medical attention.

"In fact, there have been numerous life-saving interventions by pharmacists across Northern Ireland with conditions such as a stroke, skin cancer, and severe allergic reactions picked up and subsequently treated successfully," he added.

"Over the years, pharmacies have expanded their range of services to support COVID-19 and flu vaccination programmes and provide treatments for common winter illnesses.

"Under the Pharmacy First service, many offer over-the-counter emergency contraception and can treat urinary tract and bacterial sore throat infections."

Mr. McAleer continued: "As community pharmacists, we aim to keep people healthy and well at home for as long as possible.

"We live locally and we get to know entire generations of families, from the cradle to old age, and we support many patients with long-term medical conditions."

He encouraged people to consider their pharmacy as the primary source for expert healthcare advice.