IBA is essentially the delivery of short simple brief advice following Identification (i.e screening) not usually lasting longer than 5-10 minutes. Our team can then advise and signpost you to support available to re-think your drink.
Local services can be found on the Health in Herts website (click here) or via Drinkaware.co.uk
Blood Pressure Checks
Get your blood pressure check at your pharmacy – no appointment required.
Our pharmacist is fully trained to measure your blood pressure. This is done in comfort and privacy in our private consulting room.
The pharmacist will discuss the results with you in confidence and reccomend any further action you might need to take as a result of the check.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body.
How is blood pressure measured?
To find out your blood pressure, two measurements are recorded during a single heartbeat:
- the level of pressure when your heart pumps blood through your arteries and around your body (systolic pressure): this is when the pressure is highest, and
- the level of pressure when your heart is resting before it pumps again (diastolic pressure): this is when the pressure is lowest
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The readings are given as two numbers or levels. The systolic reading is first, followed by the diastolic reading. For example, if your systolic reading is 120mmHg and your diastolic reading is 80mmHg, your blood pressure is 120 over 80. This is commonly written as 120/80.
Is my blood pressure high, normal or low?
Blood pressure can be high, normal or low.
If you consistently have a reading of 140/90 or higher, you may have high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases your risk of developing some health conditions, including cardiovascular disease.
Generally, the lower your blood pressure, the healthier you are. As a general guide, the ideal blood pressure for a young healthy adult is 120/80 or lower. However, it’s possible to have abnormally low blood pressure.
People with a reading of around 90/60 or lower are generally considered to have low blood pressure. For some people with low blood pressure, there may be an underlying cause that could need treatment.
Read More
A great source for futher information on Blood Pressure and how you can understand ways to manage the risk and live with the condition can be found at http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/Home
Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection which is treatable. It’s passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). It is most common in young people aged 16- 24.Therefore, young people who are sexually active, should be screened. We offer FREE chlamydia screening for under 24s.
Most people who have chlamydia do not notice any symptoms, and therefore, do not know they have it. If you do get signs or symptoms, these usually appear between one and three weeks of having unprotected sex with an infected person.
It may be any of the following:
In women
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Need to urinate more often
- Pain while having sex or urinating
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
- Bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods
In men
- Discharge from penis which is clear or cloudy
- Pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Irritation at the tip of the penis
- Painful and swollen testicles ( balls)
If chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb, and can result in complications such as infertility pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy (baby grows outside the womb), early miscarriage or premature birth.
In men it can cause complications such as painful infection in the balls (testicles), epididymitis, inflamed prostate and reduced fertility.
Chlamydia Screening
This test is pain free, simple and confidential.
Simply come in and ask about the service. One of our staff will take you into our private consultation room, show you the form to fill in and explain the process and will give you a urine sample pot. You can then take your urine sample at home and send via post to the lab.
The lab will test it and send you the result by whichever method you ticked on the form, whether it be a text message, email or letter.
If you have a positive result, do not worry. Chlamydia infections are treatable.
Chlamydia Treatment
We offer FREE chlamydia treatment for anyone between the ages of 12-24 years who have a positive chlamydia test. We also treat partners of patients with a positive chlamydia screening from above 12 years of age. You will get a confidential consultation with our Pharmacist who will then provide treatment if needed.
Chlamydia is usually treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are very effective for treating chlamydia. There are two antibiotics that are used to treat chlamydia:
- Azithromycin (a single dose)
- Doxycycline (usually two capsules daily for one week)
You should not have sex for at least one week after you have finished your treatment. You may need to avoid having sex for longer if your sexual partner has not been treated so that you do not become re-infected. If you test positive for chlamydia, it’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners (within past 6 months) are also tested and treated.
Waste Medicine Disposal
If you have out of date or unwanted medicines, both prescription or over the counter drugs, don’t bin them or flush them.
You can take your unwanted or out of date medicines back to your Pharmacy for safe disposal, and it’s completely FREE.
Each year, enormous quantities of unused and expired medications are dumped into bins or flushed down toilets and sinks. The effects on the environment and human health are unclear but evidence is pointing to the presence of chemicals from prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in soil, drinking water and the surrounding environment. Just as proper medication administration is important, so is safe and cautious disposal.
Unused prescription medicines cost the NHS across the UK over £300 million every year.
£300 million could pay for:
- 80,906 MORE hip replacements*
- 101,351 MORE knee replacements*
- 19,799 MORE drug treatment courses for breast cancer*
- 11,778 MORE community nurses*
- 300,000 MORE drug treatment courses for Alzheimer’s*
*Based on average costs
You can help by: Only ordering the medicines that you need:
- Please let your GP or Pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines
- Check what medicines you still have at home before re-ordering
- Discuss your medication with your GP or Pharmacist on a regular basis
- Think carefully before ticking all the boxes on your repeat prescription forms and only tick those you really need
- If you don’t need the medicine please don’t order it! If you need the medicine in the future you can still request it.
- If you need to go into hospital, please remember to take all your medicines with you in a clearly marked bag.
- Please also remember that your medicines are prescribed only for you; it’s not safe to share them with anyone else.
Remember that unused medicines cannot be recycled
- Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the Pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.
- Please bring your unused medicines to the Pharmacy for safe disposal.
- NEVER dispose of your unused or unwanted medicines down the toilet
- We cannot accept any needles as part of returned medicines. Please remove before and contact your prescriber for appropriate disposal service
Unused medicines are a safety risk
- Return out of date medicines to your Pharmacy or dispensary for safe disposal
- If your medicines change – return your old medicines to the Pharmacy for safe disposal to avoid mixing them up with your new medicines
- Don’t stockpile medication – it is a safety risk for children and others who might take them
- Store medicines in an appropriate place out of reach of children
For more information on Medicines Waste please visit http://www.medicinewaste.com/
You may need emergency contraception (EHC) to prevent an unexpected pregnancy, after unprotected sex or after the failure of a contraceptive method i.e. condom splitting during sex.
EHC is available either over the counter or, to some eligible patients, on the NHS. After a comprehensive consultation in the privacy of our consultation room, our pharmacist will assess if it is appropriate for you to take and, if it is, which of the available medications will be suitable.
Most EHC should be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The sooner you take it after a sexual episode, the higher the chance of the tablet being effective. The tablet does not protect you against pregnancy for the rest of your menstrual cycle and does not give any protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
If more than 72 hours after the sexual episode, there is other EHC available on prescription or via a specialist service can work for up to 120 hours. Our pharmacist can discuss this with you.
For links to the local services available please go to https://www.quadrantpharmacy.co.uk/health-in-herts/
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
Make life easier for yourself and let us order your prescription on your behalf. Simply let us know what repeat medicines you need, a few days before they run out and we will arrange to collect it from your Doctor's surgery.
Medicines Use Review
A free NHS service to discuss your existing medicines and appliances with the pharmacist.
Meet with our pharmacist in the private consultation room to talk about:
- The medicines you are taking
- What they do
- How well they work for you
- How to get the most out of them
What is a Medicines Use Review (MUR)
A medicines use review is an appointment with one of our pharmacists to focus on how you are getting on with your medicines. It is an NHS service and you don’t need to pay for it.
The meeting is to:
- Help you find out more about the medicines you are taking
- Pick up any problems you are having with your medicines
- Improve the effectiveness of your medicines. There may be easier ways to take them, or you may find you need fewer medicines than before
- Get better value for the NHS- making sure that your medicines are right for you prevents unnecessary waste
Our pharmacist will have questions to ask you, and may suggest changes to your medicines. You may have concerns or questions that you want to ask. You can ask anything at all about your medicines.
Remember you can ask our pharmacist questions at any time, but a review will give you and us both more time to concentrate on you and your medicines.
How you may be offered a review:
Our pharmacist might invite you for a review either in person or in a letter through the post.
You can also ask our pharmacist for a review. You must have been getting your prescriptions from us for three months or more.
Is a medicines use review for you?
You can ask for a medicines use review if:
- You are regularly taking more than one prescription medicine
- You are taking medicines for a long term illness (like asthma, arthritis, diabetes or epilepsy
Our pharmacist will be happy to arrange a review meeting, and may even suggest it. Your doctor or nurse might also suggest that a review would be helpful.
Even if you are not in either of these groups, you can ask our pharmacist for advice at any time.
If there is an urgent problem with medicines, don’t wait for a medicines use review. If you or somebody else, notice one of the things on this list, don’t delay:
- If you have taken too much of any medicine
- If you have an allergic reaction to a new medicine (such as wheezing, rash, swelling or fainting)
- If you notice a serious side effect or any unusual symptoms
- If you notice your health getting worse
In any of these cases, talk to a doctor or pharmacist straight away.
What you can expect in the review meeting
Our pharmacists have undergone special training and have been assessed to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills to provide this service.
The meeting is confidential:
- We have private consultation rooms in our pharmacies where you sit down together with the pharmacist and can’t be overheard by customers or staff
- Your details and your discussion will be kept private. You can talk openly and your questions or worries will be listened to. Only you and your GP will normally receive a record of the meeting
Our pharmacist will listen and help:
- We will be ready to hear your concerns and your questions. You can be open with us and say whatever you want in these meetings
- Our pharmacists will only know about medicines that you have received from our pharmacy. We will not have a record of prescriptions you may have picked up from another pharmacy. We will not have your medical history or details about your illness. So it’s important to tell us as much as you can
What happens afterwards?
- Everything may be okay with your medicines and nothing else will need to happen
- You will be given an action plan which will include any changes you have agreed in the way you take your medicines. This will be filled in by our pharmacist during the review
- A copy of the Action Plan will go to your doctor and be kept with your medical notes
- Our pharmacist may recommend a change to your prescription. You will have a note of this in the Action Plan. Both you and your doctor will need to agree on any changes to your prescription, so you may be asked to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these. No changes will be made against your will
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
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(s) 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.
A monitored dosage system (MDS) is a medication storage device designed to simplify the administration of solid oral dose medication, especially for those on multiple medications. It aims to address the issues of difficulty accessing medication due to sight impairment or other disability and/or forgetfulness.
MDS devices are usually a variation on the design of a box or a blister pack, divided into days of the week with several compartments per day to allow for the different timing of doses such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.
Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for.
MDS may be suitable for patients in the following circumstances:
- You struggle to organise medications and find it difficult to remember to take them at the correct time each day
- You have a large number of medications to take each day
- You find it difficult to remove medication from its packaging
- You have a carer who helps you to ensure you take your medicines correctly.
Ask a member of our pharmacy team about whether this service would benefit you or whether there is another course of action, which may be of more help.
Seasonal Flu Vaccines
At Quadrant Pharmacy we can offer both NHS funded Flu vaccination (for eligible patient groups) or a Private Vaccination that you will need to pay for. To find out if you are eligible on the NHS and the types of Flu vaccination available please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/
There is no need for an appointment, though you can make one with us if you wish. All vaccinations are given in our private consultation room by our trained pharmacist, who will be able to advise on the possible side-effects of a seasonal flu vaccine, why it is important to protect against flu and how you protect yourself in other ways.Our pharmacist is fully trained and we are specialists in the provision of the seasonal flu vaccine.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to know more or would like to book an appointment. You can simply walk into the pharmacy and ask to have a flu vaccine, there may be a few minutes wait at busy times.
Flu Vaccinations 2020
There has been an early demand for Flu vaccines this year. Currently all of our supplies are allocated. We hope to get some more vaccines in November. Please wait until then before contacting the pharmacy. For information go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait/flu-vaccine-supplies-and-why-you-need-to-wait-for-your-vaccine
Facts about flu and the flu vaccine
To find out more facts and myths about the Flu vaccine, speak to our pharmacists or visit: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/10-myths-about-flu-and-the-flu-vaccine/
New Medicine Service
People often have problems when they start a new medicine. In this scheme the pharmacist will support you over several weeks to use the medicine safely and to best effect.
The service is only available to people using certain medicines. In some cases where there is a problem apparent and a solution cannot be found between you and the pharmacist, you will be referred back to your doctor.
How will I know if I’m eligible?
The service is only available for people living in England and only for those who have been prescribed a new medicine for the conditions listed:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure, or
- have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
How do I join the scheme?
When you take your new prescription to your local pharmacy, ask the pharmacist if you can take part in the service.
How does the new service work?
Start your medicine
You can talk to the pharmacist when you first start your medicine and ask any questions you may have about it. For example, you might want to know about side effects, or how you can fit your treatment around your lifestyle.
Your second appointment
You will have a follow-up appointment two weeks later, when you and your pharmacist can talk about any issues you might have experienced with the medicine. For example, if you are not taking it regularly, or are finding a tablet hard to swallow, your pharmacist can help you get back on track.
Your third appointment
You will have your last appointment a fortnight later when you can catch up with your pharmacist on how you are getting on with your medicine. The service then ends, but your pharmacist will always talk to you about your medicines when you need help.
Do I have to talk about my medicines over the counter in the pharmacy?
Any pharmacist providing the New Medicine Service must have a private consultation area. This is a separate room where you can’t be overheard and around 85% of pharmacies have one.
All the discussions with your pharmacist can take place in person or by phone.
How long will each appointment take?
The appointments are designed to fit around you, but a typical consultation will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
Do I have to pay?
No. This service is free through the NHS.
We care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
- Make your blood thicker, and increase chances of clot formation
- Increase your blood pressure and heart rate, making your hear work harder than normal
- Narrow your arteries, reducing the amount of oxygen rick blood circulating in your organs.
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
Mouth and throat
Smoking causes unattractive problems such as bad breath and stained teeth and can cause gum disease and damage your taste.
Reproduction
Smoking can cause male impotence as it damages blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. It can also damage sperm and cause testicular cancer. For women smoking reduces fertility. One study estimated the fertility of smoking women was 72% of that of a non smoker. Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. Smoking while pregnant can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness and increases cot death by 25%.
The good news is you can stop smoking and we are here to help.
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.
If you’re thinking of giving up smoking, you are four times more likely to succeed if you use a stop smoking product and get advice and support.
We can offer a FREE NHS private consultation with a trained member of Pharmacy staff. They will discuss your cravings, talk to you about what you’ve tried before and what products might be best for you. We can offer a structured programme with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or medications such as Champix® (Varenicline) when appropriate and when indicated.
We can help you quit smoking for good
As a health care professional, your Pharmacist and the team is ideally placed to help you through the quitting process from advice and tips on how to break the habit and also guidance on NRT products, such as gum, patches, the use of Electronic Cigarettes or other medications to help you when the urge just gets too much.
We can talk you through a quit plan in confidence and help advise you on the best method for success in quitting smoking. It’s never too late to see health benefits from quitting and we can outline the great advantages of giving up.
Advice from our Pharmacist and the team on quitting smoking is completely free and we will be happy to help in any way we can so that you can quit with confidence. Please visit us in-store or contact us for further details
NHS Go Smoke Free campaign.
The NHS Go Smoke Free campaign is a great source of information for quitting smoking. please see some of the links below for more information.
What happens when you quit smoking – Quitting timeline
Supervised Administration
Supervised administration is a service for “Blue Script” patients with prescribed medicines for the treatement and management of opiate dependence and other specialist conditions.
If you would like to use this service, please ask to speak to the Pharmacist in the consulting room and they will be happy to discuss this with you.
This service is provided in complete confidence in our private consulting room. Please remember, your Pharmacist is a medical professional and they are there to help you with complete professionalism and physeptone[1] confidence.
Pharmacies will offer a user friendly, non-judgmental, client centred and confidential service.
The Pharmacy will provide support and advice to the patient, including referral to primary care or specialist centres where appropriate.
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
- Expert Travel Consultation
- Hajj and Umrah
- Full range of vaccines in stock including ACWY
- Anti-malarials dispensed on site
- Walk In or Book Over the phone
- We offer a wide range of services at competitive prices
- Our friendly team comprises of healthcare experts including pharmacists
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
IBA is essentially the delivery of short simple brief advice following Identification (i.e screening) not usually lasting longer than 5-10 minutes. Our team can then advise and signpost you to support available to re-think your drink.
Local services can be found on the Health in Herts website (click here) or via Drinkaware.co.uk
Blood Pressure Checks
Get your blood pressure check at your pharmacy – no appointment required.
Our pharmacist is fully trained to measure your blood pressure. This is done in comfort and privacy in our private consulting room.
The pharmacist will discuss the results with you in confidence and reccomend any further action you might need to take as a result of the check.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood around your body.
How is blood pressure measured?
To find out your blood pressure, two measurements are recorded during a single heartbeat:
- the level of pressure when your heart pumps blood through your arteries and around your body (systolic pressure): this is when the pressure is highest, and
- the level of pressure when your heart is resting before it pumps again (diastolic pressure): this is when the pressure is lowest
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The readings are given as two numbers or levels. The systolic reading is first, followed by the diastolic reading. For example, if your systolic reading is 120mmHg and your diastolic reading is 80mmHg, your blood pressure is 120 over 80. This is commonly written as 120/80.
Is my blood pressure high, normal or low?
Blood pressure can be high, normal or low.
If you consistently have a reading of 140/90 or higher, you may have high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases your risk of developing some health conditions, including cardiovascular disease.
Generally, the lower your blood pressure, the healthier you are. As a general guide, the ideal blood pressure for a young healthy adult is 120/80 or lower. However, it’s possible to have abnormally low blood pressure.
People with a reading of around 90/60 or lower are generally considered to have low blood pressure. For some people with low blood pressure, there may be an underlying cause that could need treatment.
Read More
A great source for futher information on Blood Pressure and how you can understand ways to manage the risk and live with the condition can be found at http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/Home
Chlamydia is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection which is treatable. It’s passed on from one person to another through unprotected sex (sex without a condom). It is most common in young people aged 16- 24.Therefore, young people who are sexually active, should be screened. We offer FREE chlamydia screening for under 24s.
Most people who have chlamydia do not notice any symptoms, and therefore, do not know they have it. If you do get signs or symptoms, these usually appear between one and three weeks of having unprotected sex with an infected person.
It may be any of the following:
In women
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Need to urinate more often
- Pain while having sex or urinating
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
- Bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods
In men
- Discharge from penis which is clear or cloudy
- Pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Irritation at the tip of the penis
- Painful and swollen testicles ( balls)
If chlamydia is left untreated in women, it can spread to the womb, and can result in complications such as infertility pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy (baby grows outside the womb), early miscarriage or premature birth.
In men it can cause complications such as painful infection in the balls (testicles), epididymitis, inflamed prostate and reduced fertility.
Chlamydia Screening
This test is pain free, simple and confidential.
Simply come in and ask about the service. One of our staff will take you into our private consultation room, show you the form to fill in and explain the process and will give you a urine sample pot. You can then take your urine sample at home and send via post to the lab.
The lab will test it and send you the result by whichever method you ticked on the form, whether it be a text message, email or letter.
If you have a positive result, do not worry. Chlamydia infections are treatable.
Chlamydia Treatment
We offer FREE chlamydia treatment for anyone between the ages of 12-24 years who have a positive chlamydia test. We also treat partners of patients with a positive chlamydia screening from above 12 years of age. You will get a confidential consultation with our Pharmacist who will then provide treatment if needed.
Chlamydia is usually treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are very effective for treating chlamydia. There are two antibiotics that are used to treat chlamydia:
- Azithromycin (a single dose)
- Doxycycline (usually two capsules daily for one week)
You should not have sex for at least one week after you have finished your treatment. You may need to avoid having sex for longer if your sexual partner has not been treated so that you do not become re-infected. If you test positive for chlamydia, it’s important that your current sexual partner and any other recent sexual partners (within past 6 months) are also tested and treated.
Waste Medicine Disposal
If you have out of date or unwanted medicines, both prescription or over the counter drugs, don’t bin them or flush them.
You can take your unwanted or out of date medicines back to your Pharmacy for safe disposal, and it’s completely FREE.
Each year, enormous quantities of unused and expired medications are dumped into bins or flushed down toilets and sinks. The effects on the environment and human health are unclear but evidence is pointing to the presence of chemicals from prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in soil, drinking water and the surrounding environment. Just as proper medication administration is important, so is safe and cautious disposal.
Unused prescription medicines cost the NHS across the UK over £300 million every year.
£300 million could pay for:
- 80,906 MORE hip replacements*
- 101,351 MORE knee replacements*
- 19,799 MORE drug treatment courses for breast cancer*
- 11,778 MORE community nurses*
- 300,000 MORE drug treatment courses for Alzheimer’s*
*Based on average costs
You can help by: Only ordering the medicines that you need:
- Please let your GP or Pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines
- Check what medicines you still have at home before re-ordering
- Discuss your medication with your GP or Pharmacist on a regular basis
- Think carefully before ticking all the boxes on your repeat prescription forms and only tick those you really need
- If you don’t need the medicine please don’t order it! If you need the medicine in the future you can still request it.
- If you need to go into hospital, please remember to take all your medicines with you in a clearly marked bag.
- Please also remember that your medicines are prescribed only for you; it’s not safe to share them with anyone else.
Remember that unused medicines cannot be recycled
- Even if you never open them, once medicines have left the Pharmacy, they cannot be recycled or used by anyone else.
- Please bring your unused medicines to the Pharmacy for safe disposal.
- NEVER dispose of your unused or unwanted medicines down the toilet
- We cannot accept any needles as part of returned medicines. Please remove before and contact your prescriber for appropriate disposal service
Unused medicines are a safety risk
- Return out of date medicines to your Pharmacy or dispensary for safe disposal
- If your medicines change – return your old medicines to the Pharmacy for safe disposal to avoid mixing them up with your new medicines
- Don’t stockpile medication – it is a safety risk for children and others who might take them
- Store medicines in an appropriate place out of reach of children
For more information on Medicines Waste please visit http://www.medicinewaste.com/
You may need emergency contraception (EHC) to prevent an unexpected pregnancy, after unprotected sex or after the failure of a contraceptive method i.e. condom splitting during sex.
EHC is available either over the counter or, to some eligible patients, on the NHS. After a comprehensive consultation in the privacy of our consultation room, our pharmacist will assess if it is appropriate for you to take and, if it is, which of the available medications will be suitable.
Most EHC should be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. The sooner you take it after a sexual episode, the higher the chance of the tablet being effective. The tablet does not protect you against pregnancy for the rest of your menstrual cycle and does not give any protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
If more than 72 hours after the sexual episode, there is other EHC available on prescription or via a specialist service can work for up to 120 hours. Our pharmacist can discuss this with you.
For links to the local services available please go to https://www.quadrantpharmacy.co.uk/health-in-herts/
Erection problems (impotence) are very common, particularly in men over 40. It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should see a GP if it keeps happening.
Most men occasionally fail to get or keep an erection. Causes of erection problems can be stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol, and it's nothing to worry about.
If it happens more often, it may be caused by physical or emotional problems.
Medicine such as sildenafil is often used by doctors to treat erectile dysfunction. It is also available from our pharmacy. You no longer need a prescription to get sildenafil. You can have a private consultation with our pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take it.
Make life easier for yourself and let us order your prescription on your behalf. Simply let us know what repeat medicines you need, a few days before they run out and we will arrange to collect it from your Doctor's surgery.
Medicines Use Review
A free NHS service to discuss your existing medicines and appliances with the pharmacist.
Meet with our pharmacist in the private consultation room to talk about:
- The medicines you are taking
- What they do
- How well they work for you
- How to get the most out of them
What is a Medicines Use Review (MUR)
A medicines use review is an appointment with one of our pharmacists to focus on how you are getting on with your medicines. It is an NHS service and you don’t need to pay for it.
The meeting is to:
- Help you find out more about the medicines you are taking
- Pick up any problems you are having with your medicines
- Improve the effectiveness of your medicines. There may be easier ways to take them, or you may find you need fewer medicines than before
- Get better value for the NHS- making sure that your medicines are right for you prevents unnecessary waste
Our pharmacist will have questions to ask you, and may suggest changes to your medicines. You may have concerns or questions that you want to ask. You can ask anything at all about your medicines.
Remember you can ask our pharmacist questions at any time, but a review will give you and us both more time to concentrate on you and your medicines.
How you may be offered a review:
Our pharmacist might invite you for a review either in person or in a letter through the post.
You can also ask our pharmacist for a review. You must have been getting your prescriptions from us for three months or more.
Is a medicines use review for you?
You can ask for a medicines use review if:
- You are regularly taking more than one prescription medicine
- You are taking medicines for a long term illness (like asthma, arthritis, diabetes or epilepsy
Our pharmacist will be happy to arrange a review meeting, and may even suggest it. Your doctor or nurse might also suggest that a review would be helpful.
Even if you are not in either of these groups, you can ask our pharmacist for advice at any time.
If there is an urgent problem with medicines, don’t wait for a medicines use review. If you or somebody else, notice one of the things on this list, don’t delay:
- If you have taken too much of any medicine
- If you have an allergic reaction to a new medicine (such as wheezing, rash, swelling or fainting)
- If you notice a serious side effect or any unusual symptoms
- If you notice your health getting worse
In any of these cases, talk to a doctor or pharmacist straight away.
What you can expect in the review meeting
Our pharmacists have undergone special training and have been assessed to make sure they have the right knowledge and skills to provide this service.
The meeting is confidential:
- We have private consultation rooms in our pharmacies where you sit down together with the pharmacist and can’t be overheard by customers or staff
- Your details and your discussion will be kept private. You can talk openly and your questions or worries will be listened to. Only you and your GP will normally receive a record of the meeting
Our pharmacist will listen and help:
- We will be ready to hear your concerns and your questions. You can be open with us and say whatever you want in these meetings
- Our pharmacists will only know about medicines that you have received from our pharmacy. We will not have a record of prescriptions you may have picked up from another pharmacy. We will not have your medical history or details about your illness. So it’s important to tell us as much as you can
What happens afterwards?
- Everything may be okay with your medicines and nothing else will need to happen
- You will be given an action plan which will include any changes you have agreed in the way you take your medicines. This will be filled in by our pharmacist during the review
- A copy of the Action Plan will go to your doctor and be kept with your medical notes
- Our pharmacist may recommend a change to your prescription. You will have a note of this in the Action Plan. Both you and your doctor will need to agree on any changes to your prescription, so you may be asked to make an appointment with your doctor to discuss these. No changes will be made against your will
Norethisterone to delay menstruation without seeing the GP
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(s) 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.
A monitored dosage system (MDS) is a medication storage device designed to simplify the administration of solid oral dose medication, especially for those on multiple medications. It aims to address the issues of difficulty accessing medication due to sight impairment or other disability and/or forgetfulness.
MDS devices are usually a variation on the design of a box or a blister pack, divided into days of the week with several compartments per day to allow for the different timing of doses such as breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.
Our Pharmacist can help identify which patients this type of system would be suitable for.
MDS may be suitable for patients in the following circumstances:
- You struggle to organise medications and find it difficult to remember to take them at the correct time each day
- You have a large number of medications to take each day
- You find it difficult to remove medication from its packaging
- You have a carer who helps you to ensure you take your medicines correctly.
Ask a member of our pharmacy team about whether this service would benefit you or whether there is another course of action, which may be of more help.
Seasonal Flu Vaccines
At Quadrant Pharmacy we can offer both NHS funded Flu vaccination (for eligible patient groups) or a Private Vaccination that you will need to pay for. To find out if you are eligible on the NHS and the types of Flu vaccination available please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/
There is no need for an appointment, though you can make one with us if you wish. All vaccinations are given in our private consultation room by our trained pharmacist, who will be able to advise on the possible side-effects of a seasonal flu vaccine, why it is important to protect against flu and how you protect yourself in other ways.Our pharmacist is fully trained and we are specialists in the provision of the seasonal flu vaccine.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to know more or would like to book an appointment. You can simply walk into the pharmacy and ask to have a flu vaccine, there may be a few minutes wait at busy times.
Flu Vaccinations 2020
There has been an early demand for Flu vaccines this year. Currently all of our supplies are allocated. We hope to get some more vaccines in November. Please wait until then before contacting the pharmacy. For information go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait/flu-vaccine-supplies-and-why-you-need-to-wait-for-your-vaccine
Facts about flu and the flu vaccine
To find out more facts and myths about the Flu vaccine, speak to our pharmacists or visit: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/10-myths-about-flu-and-the-flu-vaccine/
New Medicine Service
People often have problems when they start a new medicine. In this scheme the pharmacist will support you over several weeks to use the medicine safely and to best effect.
The service is only available to people using certain medicines. In some cases where there is a problem apparent and a solution cannot be found between you and the pharmacist, you will be referred back to your doctor.
How will I know if I’m eligible?
The service is only available for people living in England and only for those who have been prescribed a new medicine for the conditions listed:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure, or
- have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
How do I join the scheme?
When you take your new prescription to your local pharmacy, ask the pharmacist if you can take part in the service.
How does the new service work?
Start your medicine
You can talk to the pharmacist when you first start your medicine and ask any questions you may have about it. For example, you might want to know about side effects, or how you can fit your treatment around your lifestyle.
Your second appointment
You will have a follow-up appointment two weeks later, when you and your pharmacist can talk about any issues you might have experienced with the medicine. For example, if you are not taking it regularly, or are finding a tablet hard to swallow, your pharmacist can help you get back on track.
Your third appointment
You will have your last appointment a fortnight later when you can catch up with your pharmacist on how you are getting on with your medicine. The service then ends, but your pharmacist will always talk to you about your medicines when you need help.
Do I have to talk about my medicines over the counter in the pharmacy?
Any pharmacist providing the New Medicine Service must have a private consultation area. This is a separate room where you can’t be overheard and around 85% of pharmacies have one.
All the discussions with your pharmacist can take place in person or by phone.
How long will each appointment take?
The appointments are designed to fit around you, but a typical consultation will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
Do I have to pay?
No. This service is free through the NHS.
We care about your long term health and if you are a smoker who wants to quit, but think you need help to kick the habit, our award winning Stop Smoking Service might be just what you are looking for. We have had many successes over the years and wish to help you kick the habit.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths accounting for more than 80,000 deaths each year. One in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease. If you could see the damage you would stop.
Circulation
When you smoke, the poisons from the tar in your cigarettes enter your blood. These poisons in your blood then:
- Make your blood thicker, and increase chances of clot formation
- Increase your blood pressure and heart rate, making your hear work harder than normal
- Narrow your arteries, reducing the amount of oxygen rick blood circulating in your organs.
Together these changes to your body when you smoke increase the chance of your arteries narrowing and clots forming which could lead to heart attack and stroke.
Stomach
Smokers have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer or ulcers. Smoking is a significant risk factor for developing kidney cancer and the more you smoke the greater the risk.
Skin
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to your skin. This means your skin ages more quickly and looks grey and dull. The toxins in your body also cause cellulite. Smoking prematurely ages your skin by between 10 and 20 years increasing wrinkling particularly around the eyes and mouth. The only way to prevent further deterioration is to stop smoking.
Bones
Smoking can cause your bones to become weak and brittle predisposing to brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Brain
Smokers are more likely to have a stroke than someone who doesn’t smoke. Within two years of stopping smoking your risk of stoke is reduced to half that of a smoker and within five years it will be the same as a non-smoker.
Lungs
Your lungs can be very badly affected by smoking. Coughs, colds, wheezing and asthma are just the start. Smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia emphysema, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. You can slow down the progression of some of the diseases by stopping smoking.
Mouth and throat
Smoking causes unattractive problems such as bad breath and stained teeth and can cause gum disease and damage your taste.
Reproduction
Smoking can cause male impotence as it damages blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. It can also damage sperm and cause testicular cancer. For women smoking reduces fertility. One study estimated the fertility of smoking women was 72% of that of a non smoker. Smoking also increases the risk of cervical cancer. Smoking while pregnant can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth and illness and increases cot death by 25%.
The good news is you can stop smoking and we are here to help.
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.
If you’re thinking of giving up smoking, you are four times more likely to succeed if you use a stop smoking product and get advice and support.
We can offer a FREE NHS private consultation with a trained member of Pharmacy staff. They will discuss your cravings, talk to you about what you’ve tried before and what products might be best for you. We can offer a structured programme with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) or medications such as Champix® (Varenicline) when appropriate and when indicated.
We can help you quit smoking for good
As a health care professional, your Pharmacist and the team is ideally placed to help you through the quitting process from advice and tips on how to break the habit and also guidance on NRT products, such as gum, patches, the use of Electronic Cigarettes or other medications to help you when the urge just gets too much.
We can talk you through a quit plan in confidence and help advise you on the best method for success in quitting smoking. It’s never too late to see health benefits from quitting and we can outline the great advantages of giving up.
Advice from our Pharmacist and the team on quitting smoking is completely free and we will be happy to help in any way we can so that you can quit with confidence. Please visit us in-store or contact us for further details
NHS Go Smoke Free campaign.
The NHS Go Smoke Free campaign is a great source of information for quitting smoking. please see some of the links below for more information.
What happens when you quit smoking – Quitting timeline
Supervised Administration
Supervised administration is a service for “Blue Script” patients with prescribed medicines for the treatement and management of opiate dependence and other specialist conditions.
If you would like to use this service, please ask to speak to the Pharmacist in the consulting room and they will be happy to discuss this with you.
This service is provided in complete confidence in our private consulting room. Please remember, your Pharmacist is a medical professional and they are there to help you with complete professionalism and physeptone[1] confidence.
Pharmacies will offer a user friendly, non-judgmental, client centred and confidential service.
The Pharmacy will provide support and advice to the patient, including referral to primary care or specialist centres where appropriate.
Going abroad and need to know which vaccinations you require or need advice on precautions?
We provide travel consultations with experienced staff who will assess the impact of any pre-existing medical conditions on your vaccine requirements. Our competitive pricing and easily accessible location makes us your first choice for all your travel needs
- Expert Travel Consultation
- Hajj and Umrah
- Full range of vaccines in stock including ACWY
- Anti-malarials dispensed on site
- Walk In or Book Over the phone
- We offer a wide range of services at competitive prices
- Our friendly team comprises of healthcare experts including pharmacists
Walk in for a free travel health consultation in our designated private consultation rooms today. We look forward to welcoming you and helping you with all your travel healthcare needs.
Altitude Sickness - the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
Cholera – Common in Africa, Central America and Asia, cholera is an infection spread by bacteria in contaminated food and water.
Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Tetanus - This diphtheria, polio and tetanus vaccine may also be recommended if you're travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases, or poor access to medical care, and you haven't had a booster in the last ten years.
Hepatitis A – Contaminated faecal matter spreads hepatitis A, a disease often caught via infected food and water and common across in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.
Hepatitis B – Unprotected sex is usually responsible for hepatitis A infection, along with sharing needles, visiting dirty tattoo parlours, unhygienic barbers shops and nail salons. It’s common in both undeveloped and developed countries.
Japanese Encephalitis – Spread by mosquitoes, there’s no cure for this disease found across South East Asia, Japan, and tropical regions of Australia. There are also occasional epidemics in China and India.
Malaria – A highly dangerous disease spread by infected mosquitoes, malaria is common in the equatorial tropics and subtropics.
Meningitis; ACWY Vaccination for Hajj or Umrah – A bacterial infection, this disease tends to be commonest in sub-Saharan Africa. But it’s also sometimes found where it’s crowded and where there’s imperfect hygiene, for example universities and army camps.
Rabies – Infected animal and human bites and scratches spread this awful disease, which is particularly common in Thailand, Brazil and India.
Tick-borne Encephalitis – A tick-borne virus found in eastern, northern and central Europe as well as eastern Russia, east Asia, China and Japan.
Typhoid – Bacteria are responsible for this infection and it’s found throughout the world, a risk wherever sanitation and hygiene are poor.
St. Albans
Hertfordshire
AL4 9RB