Coombe Hill Pharmacy

Providing sterile equipment to people who inject drugs helps to reduce harm and prevent spread of infection through unsafe practice. We offer a discreet and confidential service which allows you to receive sterile injecting equipment free of charge and return it in a sharps bin for safe disposal.

It is important that you take the right dose of your prescribed medicines at the right time each day to get the most from your medicines to control your condition as much as possible. This can sometimes be difficult if you take more than one medicine. One way in which this can be made easier is for your medicines to be supplied in a Monitored Dosage System, which provides you with a separate compartment for each dosage time of the day. Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for

Some people who have problems with their mobility need daily living aids to help them with day to day activities. These aids can be prescribed by assessors who look at your needs and recommend products that may be of help to you. If you receive a prescription for a daily living aid we can dispense it for you and provide any information you need on how to use it.

People receiving palliative care will often be prescribed medication which is required immediately. We stock a range of specialist medicines used in palliative care so if you have a prescription for one of these medicines you can bring it to our pharmacy and we will be able to dispense it for you, without having to wait for it to be ordered and delivered. As well as being able to supply you with your medicines, our pharmacist will be able to offer advice and information on the medicines you receive.

If you are required to have regular blood tests due to a long term condition or medication you take, we can take your blood sample in our private consultation room and send it to a laboratory to be tested. You must be referred by your GP practice to receive this service.

If you are prescribed the same medicines regularly you may be able to benefit from the free Repeat Dispensing Scheme. This allows you to get your repeat prescriptions directly from our pharmacy without having to reorder them from your GP. If you are eligible and sign up for this service we will look after your repeat prescriptions. Before you run out of your medicine(s) let us know and we will dispense your prescription, ready for you to collect.

If you regularly receive regular repeat prescriptions from your GP we can help you to make sure that you don’t ever run out of your medicines. We will order your repeat prescription on your behalf in time for us to dispense it before you run out of your medication. All you need to do is call into our pharmacy to collect your medicines when you need another supply.

If you regularly use appliances such as incontinence or stoma products then our pharmacist can provide you with an Appliance Use Review, free of charge. During the review they will help you to improve your knowledge and use of your products, identify any poor or ineffective use and advise you about safe storage and disposal.

The Minor Aliments Service (MAS) is a scheme available in Scotland, which allows you to use your pharmacy to get advice and treatments for common illnesses such as coughs, colds, pains and hay fever free on the NHS. Our Pharmacist can provide you with advice on treating these common conditions and, if necessary, prescribe over the counter medicines free of charge. In addition, if our Pharmacist feels it is appropriate then they will refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood which is produced naturally in the body. Cholesterol levels can be raised through a number of causes including; an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking and some long term conditions. Having high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of serious health conditions such as heart attack, stroke or heart disease. We can measure your cholesterol level for you which will give you an indication of your risk of developing problems in the future. We will give you advice on how you can reduce your cholesterol level if required or refer you to your GP if necessary.

Our Drink Awareness Service will help you to understand how your level of alcohol intake is affecting your body and any risks associated with this. By using a questionnaire we can identify if you are drinking above safe levels and if so, we’ll offer you advice and support to help you reduce your level of drinking. As well as short term changes, drinking higher levels of alcohol can have long term adverse affects on your body such as raised blood pressure, increased risk of some cancers, depression and dementia.

People undertaking drug treatment programmes may be required to take their medication whilst being supervised in the pharmacy. We offer a discreet and confidential service which helps to ensure your medication is taken as prescribed and to reduce the risk of medication being lost or stolen.