Pharmacies launch new scratch card campaign

By scratching off appropriate responses to the five simple statements on the scratch card and returning it to a member of the pharmacy team, people will be advised whether they may benefit from any number of the wide range of services and advice available from the pharmacy to support medicines use.

“Although many people may have concerns about their medicines, beginning a discussion about this can be difficult for them,” said Katie Burnage, community pharmacist manager. “These exciting new scratch cards provide both the patient and the pharmacist with an opportunity for engagement and encourage these sorts of conversations that can have a really positive impact on an individual’s health.”

Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire (CPWY), a local voice for all community pharmacies in West Yorkshire, is the first to trial this campaign and will support pharmacies in the Calderdale area with implementing the campaign over the six weeks that it is set to run for.

“Many people are unaware of the extent of the services available from their pharmacy team who, as medicines experts, can provide a wide range of information and advice on medicines use and healthy living,” said Robbie Turner, chief executive officer of CPWY. “We are excited to be the first to try these scratch cards which will hopefully help make people more aware of the availability of these services.”

The scratch cards, which are designed to resemble a pill packet, will start to appear this week in 47 participating pharmacies in the local Calderdale area. The pharmacies will also be displaying the campaign posters encouraging people to ask to complete the scratch cards.

The campaign supports the NHS drive to develop a more patient-focused approach to medicines use that aims to improve patient safety, deliver better health outcomes and get the best from investment in medicines.

“It is critical that medicines are taken as intended if we are to improve patients’ health,” said Calderdale Councillor Adam Wilkinson. “This initiative will help people to decide whether it would be a good idea to seek a consultation with their pharmacist about the medicines they have been prescribed.”

The scratch card campaign was developed and funded via an educational grant by Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company, with the scratch card itself being developed in consultation with the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), a UK wide trade association for community pharmacy.