Why do I need a Health Check?

Everyone has a chance of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes or certain types of dementia. The Bush Pharmacy Health Check through a series of tests and examinations it will help you to identify your risks earlier.

You will then be given advice on what action you can take to lower your risk and improve your chances of a healthier life. This could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you take if your risk is low or moderate. If you are at higher risk, you might be offered things like medicines to control your blood pressure , blood sugar or cholesterol levels, along with help to take action like losing weight or stopping smoking.

What happens during a Health Check?

The Bush Pharmacy Health Check consists of a few simple tests that will give you a clearer picture of your risk of developing four common but often preventable conditions: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or type 2 diabetes. All the tests are simple to carry out, and there will be time for one of our specialised members of staff to discuss the results with you.

On the day
Health Check takes around 20 minutes and will usually be divided into two parts:

• Questions and health tests ( which involves taking a small sample of your blood for analysis) that will give a picture of your health. These include:
• A Diabetes Check -Diabetes if left untreated can devastatequality of life, diabetes occupies a dangerous position, for it can damage our vital organs leading to complicated diseases such as blindness, coronary heart disease, blood pressure, kidney failure, brain damage and nervous breakdowns. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is caused by the malfunctioning of the pancreas with many people continuing to live, little aware that they are diabetic.The normal symptoms are:
  • Excessive thirst
  • Increased appetite
  • Frequent urination
  • Sudden loss of weight
  • Giddiness, etc.
• A Blood Pressure Check
• A Cholesterol Check - You may wonder whether you need to have a cholesterol test. Having too much bad cholesterol in your blood can increase your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. And there are things you can do to bring your bad cholesterol down and reduce your risk of heart disease. This again is achieved by taking a small blood sample from your finger.
• Once we have all your results, one our expert pharmacists will discuss the results with you. This will include personalised advice and lifestyle support. If necessary, treatment to help you maintain or improve your health and lower your risk of these conditions.

If required any of the tests carried out in our Health Check Service can be arranged separately, for example if Diabetes is your concern a Diabetes test can be carried out only and charged accordingly without having to undergo all the other examinations.

A simple blood test can help reduce your risk from some of the most serious conditions that typically show NO symptoms at all.

Blood screening is a medical process in which blood is scanned to test for a particular disease or condition. Although this procedure may be done for variety of reasons, the most common include Hepatitis screenings, pregnancy screenings, and screenings for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). The use of a blood screenings may also be needed to check for things like Vitamin D levels and food intolerance.

It is known that food can cause many different types of reactions in the body. These may be evident in the skin (such as hives, rashes, itchiness, or swellings); the gut (such as reflux, vomiting, tummy pains, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation); when breathing (such as shortness of breath or a tight chest) or through generally feeling unwell. Some people put up with symptoms for years, which could get better if the foods causing these symptoms were cut out of the diet.

"Knowing what you're allergic to is key to managing your condition"

Finding out which foods are causing your symptoms can be straightforward for some people and incredibly tricky for others, dependent on what their symptoms are; how quickly the symptoms appear after eating a food; and which food (or foods) is causing a problem. We have partnered up with one of the largest independent providers of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK. So that we provide our customers with the laboratory information required for diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. Our blood screening service is painless, quick and carried out with the utmost discretion. The types of screenings offered at Bush Pharmacy are shown below, prices are heavily discounted with further discounts available on request. Please call us on 0208-7439254 or pop into the pharmacy for more information.

TESTS AVAILABLE

• Syphilis
• Hep B sag
• Hep C Abs
• 7 STDs by PCR
• Herpes Simplex I/II by PCR
• Lipid Profile
• Iron Status Profile
• Antimullarian Hormone
• Vitamin D (25 OH)
• Omega3/6
• Food Intolerance Profile
• HbA1c (diabetes test)
• DPD

The Full STI test includes:

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhoea
• Herpes
• Mycoplasma Genitalium
• NSU/Ureaplasma Urealyticum
• Trichomoniasis
• Bacterial Vaginosis

The Food Intolerance tests a complete intolerance profile including trees, weeds, grasses, moulds, animals as well as foods

We are able to obtain your prescriptions electronically without the need for a paper copy. Simply ask your GP Surgery to nominate our pharmacy in order for your prescriptions to be transferred to us automatically.

How to get emergency contraception from Bush pharmacy?

You can buy emergency contraception from Bush Pharmacy without a prescription. It is also available free of charge on the NHS (please enquire within)

Before you receive your emergency contraception one of our pharmacists will just need to ask you some brief questions to check your suitability, and to check that you have got all the support you need. They will also explain your next steps. (Don’t worry, this consultation is free and confidential)

It’s all too easy to be unsure about the frequency or dose of a medicine if you’re taking a lot of different medicines at the same time.

Whenever you want to double check how often or how much of your medicines you should be taking,just pop into Bush Pharmacy and one of our pharmacists will be able to give you all the support you need to make sure you’re getting the most from your medicines. They’ll also be able to check how your medicines are affecting one another, and if you have a new, common ailment like a cold, what medicines you’re able to take to help get you feeling better. The Medicines Use Review is available annually to patients receiving prescription medication from Bush Pharmacy for three months or more.

If you don’t regularly receive your medicines from Bush Pharmacy (either through collection or delivery) we will still be happy to check your medicines and give you as much advice as they can.

The single most effective way to prevent flu and spread of germs is to get vaccinated every year. The flu (or influenza) season hits between October and April every year. It's a common viral infection that affects the lungs and upper respiratory airways and can sometimes result in debilitating symptoms. Flu is extremely contagious; it can be spread through coughing, sneezing or touching. The symptoms take around two days to appear after you have been infected, and people are usually infectious a day or so before the symptoms start and then for around six days– so it's almost impossible to avoid!

Typical symptoms include:

• High temperature
• Sweating, feeling feverish / shivery
• Headache
• Aching limbs and tiredness
• Sore throat with a dry cough
• Loss of appetite

So if you want to help protect yourself against flu this winter, our Winter Flu Jab Service is here to help. Even if you had a flu vaccination last year, you may consider having it again this year to protect yourself against the viruses responsible for causing most cases of flu, including the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

How much does it cost?

Please call for an up to date price  020 8743 9254. However, you may be able to get the vaccination for free on the NHS via Bush pharmacy if any of the following criteria apply:

• If you are aged 65 or over
• If you are pregnant
• If you suffer from a health condition such as diabetes or asthma. Scroll down for more information or consult your Bush pharmacist to see if you might be eligible

If you care for someone whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill.

When you come along for the flu vaccination a pharmacist will go through a questionnaire with you to see if you are suitable for the vaccination. 

The Winter Flu Jab Service is not suitable for people under 13 years old. You may also not be able to have a flu vaccination if:

• You feel unwell, have a high temperature or an infection
• You are allergic to either eggs or chicken
• You have had an allergic reaction to a previous jab
• You have any other allergies

If you are suitable you will be given the vaccination, which includes protection against viruses responsible for causing most cases of flu including the H1N1 virus (swine flu).

Everyone's at risk of catching flu, so if you want to protect yourself and those around you this Winter, you can arrange to get vaccinated at Bush Pharmacy, the vaccination will take place in one of our private consultation areas. There is limited availability of stock, so make sure you don’t miss out, contact Bush Pharmacy today !

The Flu jab service can be equally beneficial to larger organisations who want to ensure their employees remain fit and healthy during the flu season. Other benefits include:

• Helps to decrease workplace absence and reduce the costs and disruption which unexpected sick leave can create
• Helps promote a healthier workplace
• Helps improve the well being of your employees, driving employee engagement
• You have any other allergies

What is the New Medicine Service (NMS)?

The New Medicine Service is a free NHS service, offered through your pharmacy (chemist), to help you understand your condition and get the most out of your new medicine.

Who is it for?

The service is for people who have received their first prescription for a medicine to treat any of the following conditions:

• Asthma
• Lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure

Conditions where you take a medicine to control the way your blood clots.

How will it help me?

Between 30% and 50% of prescribed medicines are not taken as recommended. This means that a lot of medicines are wasted or are not as effective as they could be.

The service will:

• Help you to find out more about the new medicine you are taking.
• Help to sort out any problems you are having with your new medicine.
• Give you a chance to ask questions about your medicine and discuss any concerns.
• Help to improve the effectiveness of your new medicine, for example, there may be an easier or better way to take it.
• Help you to make your own decisions about managing your condition.
• Help you to improve your health, which could lead to fewer GP and hospital visits.

The New Medicine Service will help provide better value for you and the NHS by making sure that your medicines are right for you.

How does the service work?

When you are given your new medicine you will be asked if you want to sign up to the service, which will be provided in three parts. If you agree, you will need to sign a consent form to allow your pharmacist to share your information with other parts of the NHS (see below).

Step 1
Your pharmacist will give you information about your new medicine.

Step 2
You will be invited to a meeting with your pharmacist between 7 and 14 days after you first receive your medicine. You will be able to choose a time that suits you.
This is a confidential conversation and will be provided in a private area within the pharmacy or if you prefer, you could choose to have the discussion over the telephone.
Your pharmacist will ask you questions about how you are getting on with your new medicine, find out if you are having any problems and give you any information and support you need. You may have concerns or questions that you want to ask. You can ask anything at all about your new medicine.

Step 3
Your pharmacist will arrange a follow-up discussion with you 14 to 21 days after step 2. You will be able to talk about how things are going with your medicine and ask for more advice if you need it.

Why do I need to sign a consent form?

In order to receive this service, you will be asked to give your consent for your pharmacist to share information from your New Medicine Service discussions with your GP, if necessary (for example if they need to change your medicine because you are having a problem with it)

If you do not give your consent you will not be able to use the service. However, when you first receive your medicines your pharmacist will still give you advice about them.

How can you prepare for your discussions with the pharmacist?

• Read the leaflet that comes with your new medicine.
• Make a note of questions you want to ask about your new medicine.
• Make a note of any concerns about your new medicine that you may want to discuss with your pharmacist.

Bring your new medicine to the meeting with your pharmacist.

You will then be given advice on what action you can take to lower your risk and improve your chances of a healthier life. This could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you take if your risk is low or moderate. If you are at higher risk, you might be offered things like medicines to control your blood pressure , blood sugar or cholesterol levels, along with help to take action like losing weight or stopping smoking.

We dispense NHS prescriptions and will give advice on how to get the most benefit from your medicines. We keep a comprehensive stock of medicines and use a fast and an efficient wholesaler service to enable us to fill all prescriptions promptly. For patients in England who do not have a valid exemption or pre-payment certificate, the NHS prescription charge is currently £9.65 per item.

We recommend you consider getting a flub jab If you don't qualify for an NHS vaccination but are:

• susceptible to colds and chest infections
• are self employed and unable to afford time off work
• would like to protect yourself from flu during peak season

This service is available on a walk in basis without an appointment and there is a charge but please call the pharmacy first.  Please call for an up to date price  020 8743 9254

We can dispense NHS repeat dispensing prescriptions issued by your doctor. We handle repeat prescriptions, we send reminders and you can order online using our website or app. The NHS prescription charge per item for patients in England is £9.65.

We all know that smoking is bad for us and, although giving up can be very hard, stopping smoking is one of the best lifestyle changes you can make to benefit your health. The good news is that Bush Pharmacy is here to help you stop smoking, we have been awarded year on year for our commitment to helping our patients stay smoke free, recently in 2013 we were honored to have been awarded the best stop smoking pharmacy in Hammersmith, Fulham and Richmond. So feel free to stop by to have an informal chat to one of our highly trained stop smoking advisers, and let us help you say no to cigarettes. In fact, its been proven that if you combine Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) with one to one support, you're up to 4 times more likely to quit than if you go it alone. Starting out - all the power you need to say no to cigarettes Our free Stop Smoking Service gives you access to support, tips and pharmacy advice about the latest stop smoking aids. Take as much support as you feel you need from our team, who are able to help you: Decide which stop smoking method you’d like to use to quit (including nicotine replacement patches, sprays and inhalers). Manage your cravings. Dispense your initial nicotine replacement product. Arrange your next appointment. Staying stopped - beating the craving for life Our pharmacy team will give you the help you need to quit cigarettes for good. The Stop Smoking Service offers: Continuing advice about lowering your nicotine replacement needs until you no longer crave cigarettes. Weekly counseling sessions which involve carbon monoxide monitoring. Advice on smoking cessation medication like Bupropion, which can help double your chances of successfully stopping smoking. Smoking facts People are four times more likely to quit with support compared to those who choose to go it alone Smoking increases the risk of serious diseases and health problems such as cancer, heart attack, stroke and breathing problems such as COPD. Health Benefits After Benefit 10 minutes Blood pressure and pulse return to normal 8 hours Blood oxygen levels return to normal and chance of having a heart attack starts to fall 24 hours Carbon monoxide leaves the body and lungs start to clear out mucus and debris 48 hours Congratulations. All nicotine has now left your body. Sense of taste and smell improves 72 hours Breathing is easier and energy levels increase 2 - 12 weeks Circulation improves throughout body, exercise becomes easier 3 - 9 months Lung efficiency increases by 5 10%. Reduction in coughing, wheezing and breathlessness 5 years Chance of a heart attack is now only 50% of that of a smoker 10 years Chance of lung cancer is now only 50% of that of a smoker. Chance of a heart attack is the same as a non smoker Financial Benefits Based on a pack of 20 cigarettes costing £7.47 Cigarettes per day 5 10 20 40 50 60 Month 1 £56.02 £112.05 £224.10 £448.20 £560.25 £627.30 Month 3 £168.06 £336.15 £672.30 £1,344.60 £1,680.75 £2,016.90 Month 6 £336.12 £672.30 £1,344.60 £2,689.20 £3,361.50 £4,033.80 1 Year £672.24 £1,344.60 £2,689.20 £5,378.40 £6,723.00 £8,067.60 After 1 year I could buy An iPad A 40" TV and  home cinema system Two months repayment on a mortgage for a semi-detached house A fully fitted kitchen A family holiday for two weeks in Barbados A new car Check out our smoking calculator to see the impact smoking has on your life: FAQs Which Method To Quit Smoking Is Best For Me? The method you decide on is up to you, and you may want to discuss these options with your pharmacist or GP. Whatever method you use, the support of family and friends can be crucial. Tests, such as the Fagerstrom test, can help determine the severity of your addiction to nicotine, which may affect the method you choose. Bear the following in mind though. What Is Nicotine Replacement Therapy? Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the name given to stop-smoking medicines that release nicotine into the bloodstream to help counter cravings and reduce other physical withdrawal symptoms when you quit (nausea, headaches, irritability, dizziness). NRT can come in many forms such as chewing gum, nasal spray, mouth spray, inhalator, microtabs, lozenges and patches. Are Nicotine Based Stop Smoking Treatments Addictive? Nicotine based stop smoking treatments are especially designed to provide a temporary source of therapeutic nicotine at the correct amount of strength required dependant on the amount of cigarettes you previously smoked or the stage you are at of quitting smoking. Is It True That Nicotine Causes Yellow Stains On Your Fingers And Teeth? It is not the nicotine in cigarettes, but the tar that causes the unsightly yellow-brown stains on fingers and teeth. Will Chewing More Than One Piece Of Nicotine Gum At Any One Time Reduce My Cravings Anymore? No each piece of nicotine gum is designed to provide you with the right amount of nicotine to tackle your cravings and withdrawal symptoms effectively. So it is not advised to chew more than one piece of nicotine gum at a time. What Is Champix? Champix is a prescription-only medicine. Launched in December 2006, the tablets contain the active ingredient varenicline. Varenicline works by: Stimulating the same receptors in the brain as nicotine. This relieves the craving and withdrawal symptoms that you can get when you stop smoking. Blocking nicotine's action on these receptors. This means you won't get any enjoyable effect from nicotine if you do have a cigarette.