Hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis if we want to be proper) results from our body producing an allergic reaction to pollen. Symptoms typically include itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose, dry cough, scratchy throat and possibly a bit of a wheezy chest. Severity varies greatly, with some people only mildly affected and others suffering to the extent of having to cancel plans as they can’t get outside! Timing varies too, depending on the type of pollen an individual is allergic to. Those who suffer specifically from tree pollen allergy tend to find symptoms start quite early in the year, often around March, while weeds are often a problem that lingers in Autumn. Regardless of cause, treatments are similar although some people respond better to one than another and it can be a little trial

As we move to relaxing the UK Covid restrictions, NHS Test & Trace is allowing all adults free access to lateral flow tests to use at home. The idea behind this is that testing people with no symptoms twice a week will pick up anyone with asymptomatic infection and prevent unknowingly spreading Covid around their contacts. The tests are available to anyone, but are especially recommended for those who have to leave home for work, or those with close contact with school children or school workers. Tests can be collected from test centres and Wyvern Pharmacy and have full instructions inside the box. Call in or contact us for more information.

Wyvern Pharmacy now offer the NHS Discharge Medication Service. This NEW service means we can help people who are discharged from hospital to ensure the medicines given are safe, correct and reconciled with existing prescriptions. This aims to mean that there is less risk of people needing to be re-admitted to hospital after discharge, as we can help prevent prescribing errors between hospital and GP surgery. This service is open to anyone living in England as we can provide the service by phone or video call. Let the discharging hospital know you would like a referral to Wyvern Pharmacy and we’ll help with your medicines once you are home.

Although the UK lock down carries on for now, as the vaccine roll out continues apace we have reason to hope that some restrictions will start to ease. While an exciting thought, this also has many people looking at how much weight has been gained through lock down, as home schooling, home working and general boredom took their toll. People may wish to slim down before going back to offices or (fingers crossed) a few days away from home. Being overweight also brings risks of heart problems, high blood pressure and worse outcomes if infected with viruses like flu and Covid. For many of these people dieting alone will not offer a quick enough drop in body weight for their expectations, which can be disheartening and lead to “giving up” on achieving a healthy weight. We all know the general r

Congratulations to our Jen, who has completed and passed the CPPE course for Accuracy Checking Technicians. This means that she is accredited to complete the final accuracy check of prescriptions ready to send out to customers, provided they have been dispensed by another member of the team and clinically checked as safe by a pharmacist. This will free up more of our pharmacist’s time to focus on our extra service offering, like travel and flu vaccines (and fingers crossed Covid vaccines sometime soon), weight loss clinic, private clinic prescribing and medicines advice for people recently discharged from hospital, or started on new medication by their GP. What a great start to 2021 at Wyvern Pharmacy!

We have teamed up with Healthera to offer an NHS approved mobile app to order repeat prescriptions direct from your doctor. The app can also be used to message our pharmacy with queries, set up dose times & order reminders and manage dependant’s medication all in one place. To get the most out of the app, you’ll also need your NHS Online Codes from your surgery. This will link the app to your medical records, updating your medication list accurately and allowing prescription requests to be made quickly direct with the GP. Download the Healthera app & search for Wyvern Pharmacy, or get in touch with us direct for a text or email invite. Or if you’re passing, scan the QR code on our window poster! https://www.healthera.co.uk/for-patients

Well done to Maddie. Once our apprentice now a full member of the dispensary team, Maddie was chosen by AAH (a national pharmaceutical wholesaler) to be a Community Hero for her work at Wyvern during the pandemic. She was put forward by our pharmacist and chosen as 1 of 10 individuals in the whole of the UK and was sent an amazing box of goodies! We’re very proud of how far our youngest staff member has come.

We would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year. We hope that 2021 is a positive one and send out our best wishes that everyone stays safe and healthy. If you would like any advice on healthy living for the new year, such as stopping smoking, losing weight or cutting down on alcohol, please have a browse on our website Health Advice pages, or call the pharmacy where a member of the team will be happy to point you in the right direction.

We would like to wish all our customers, friends and families a very happy Christmas. Thank you to all who sent us cards, gifts and well-wishes, we really do appreciate it. A reminder we close at 5:30pm on Christmas Eve and reopen at 9am on Tuesday 29th December. Thank you for your support & custom over what has been a very difficult year for everybody. Stay safe and have a merry Christmas.

As part of our Travel Health clinic, Wyvern Pharmacy are pleased to say we can now offer Covid testing and “Safe to Fly” certificates as demanded by many airlines. The tests are a throat & nasal swab which are then analysed by our partnered laboratory who then issue a formal certificate of “zero infection detected” to show the airline before boarding. These tests may also be useful for those who simply need peace of mind, for example before visiting more vulnerable relatives and friends over the Christmas Season (provided they are in their bubble of course). Test to result turnaround is usually 24 to 48 hours and costs £145. If you’ve booked a flight for some winter sun and need a certificate to fly, get in touch today.

Happy Lancashire Day to all those living, working (or missing) our home county! Remember we offer free prescription delivery all across England, no matter the area – all from our independent, family run pharmacy in Accrington. ‘Appi Lankysher Day.

The Hyndburn Business Awards were held online last night. While there were no trophies for the pharmacy this year, our pharmacist was awarded top place for Enterprising Male for his work in the pharmacy, especially during the Covid pandemic. This award is great – but wouldn’t be possible without support. Andrew would like to thank his family and the pharmacy team for all they do in looking after customers, promoting our pharmacy and keeping the place running. We would also like to congratulate all the local businesses who won and were nominated. #smallbusiness

It’s the time of year for the big healthcare push on flu vaccines. For those at risk of complications from flu infection, it is important to get your jab yearly, as the virus can mutate and different strains are used each year to try to maximise immunity in the population. It is especially important this year as we are likely to also have Covid-19 Coronavirus circulating as well as seasonal flu – if a huge flu endemic hits, the NHS would really struggle to cope with those ill from flu as well as Covid. Sadly, this would undoubtedly lead to avoidable deaths in the vulnerable population of society. The NHS recommends flu vaccination for a range of people to try and protect them. Vaccination is recommended for anyone over 65 years old and those with an underlying health problem that puts them

It’s our pharmacy’s 4th birthday on 20th June – it really doesn’t seem that long ago since we first opened our doors to customers. We have come a long way since 2016; increasing our team from 3 to 6, taking on a Care Home contract, compounding our own hand lotions & sanitiser – and of course working through a global pandemic! The whole team would like to thank our wonderful customers both old and new for your ongoing support. As a small business, everyone who uses us for prescriptions, private clinic consultations, vaccinations and so on is making a massive difference to a truly independent pharmacy. Thank you!

In line with government & NHS guidance please do not attend the pharmacy prescribing clinic for symptoms of colds, flu, chest infections, cough or breathing problems. You can call us for symptom advice or if you are getting progressively worse or are worried please contact NHS111. Thank you.

We are proud to announce that we are sponsoring the upcoming Hyndburn Business Awards. After we have gained awards the last two years, we thought it would be good to help promote the Business Awards this year. Across the country we bemoan the loss of the typical High Street and Hyndburn is no exception to this. So this is an opportunity to showcase the wonderful local businesses that are still here supporting the community. Nominations for awards open next week and we would be very happy if we got put forward by our amazing customers once again. There’ll be regular updates on our social media platforms to promote the event and keep our followers in touch with what is happening.

Does your child use Emerade 150mcg adrenaline pen for anaphylaxis treatment, peanut allergies, food allergies and so on? The manufacturer is recalling this strength of product over worries that the pen may not activate when needed. Please contact your pharmacy for further advice. Do not throw away the pens before you have a replacement, as it is better to have an injection that might work than to not have one at all. Other strengths of this product also have some worries, but are not being recalled at this time, but please contact your pharmacy if you have any concerns.

The Government has announced an increase to the NHS prescription charge of 15 pence, to £9.15 per prescription item. This change will come into effect from 1st April 2020. The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) has also increased, with the price of a three-month PPC at £29.65 (an increase of 55 pence) and a 12-month PPC at £105.90 (an increase of £1.90). PPCs offer savings for those needing four or more items in three months, or 12 or more items in a year. It is important to remember this is NOT a payment to the pharmacy, this is a tax levied by the UK government to contribute towards the NHS. If you have any questions or concerns please speak to our pharmacy team.

You can't open a newspaper, turn on a television or look online at the moment without seeing mention of "The Corona Virus ". But what is it and what is the current NHS guidance for UK residents? Lets take a look ...

Do you live in East Lancashire? If you're diabetic and use the Contour Next blood testing system, your GP is likely to be changing you over to the Contour Plus machine. If you find your next prescription has Contour Plus test strips on it but you haven't been given a new Contour Plus machine, you will need to contact your GP surgery to arrange to be given one. The new strips won't work in the old machine. Contour Plus gives a longer window to add extra blood to the test strip before the test is wasted. If you have any queries, your GP or pharmacy will be able to help.