Fundraising
Tesco Pharmacy announce Let's Talk initiative
We have teamed up with Tesco Pharmacy, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK, to launch the ‘Let’s Talk’ pharmacy service.
Together through the health charity partnership, we have been working together to deliver specialist training to Tesco pharmacists and pharmacy colleagues to help them provide better information and support to anyone at risk of developing or living with heart and circulatory disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
All Tesco pharmacists and pharmacy colleagues who have completed the training will wear a special ‘Let’s Talk’ badge so that customers know they are in the very best of hands when they need to speak to someone in confidence.
Untapped potential of pharmacy service
To coincide with launch of ‘Let’s Talk’, a YouGov survey commissioned by Tesco and the health charities suggests that many people could be missing out on opportunities to access free advice via their local pharmacies that could help them make life-changing improvements to their health.
The survey found only around 9 per cent of people have gone to a pharmacy for advice and information on lowering their risk of health conditions such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart and circulatory diseases.
The findings also revealed that only 2% of adults in Britain had visited their pharmacist for a blood pressure check in the last twelve months, despite an estimated 4.8 million people in the UK living with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
Thousands of lives could be saved every year through people making simple changes
Dan Howarth, Head of Care at Diabetes UK, said on behalf of the charities: “We’re proud to be working together with Tesco to help deliver this world-class training to Tesco pharmacists.
“Thousands of lives could be saved every year through people making simple changes that lower their risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart and circulatory diseases. Far more people could be taking advantage of the advice and support available to them from their Tesco pharmacy whilst they do their weekly shop.”
The charities say more than 7.6 million people in the UK are living with heart and circulatory diseases, while 4.9 million are living with diabetes –90% of which are cases of type 2 diabetes –and it’s estimated that almost 3 million people are living with cancer (2020).
Yet, around four in 10 cases of cancer, many heart and circulatory diseases and up to five in 10 cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed.
Paul Pilkington, Head of Pharmacy at Tesco said: “Our Tesco pharmacy colleagues can provide information, resources and support on ways to help reduce your risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
“They are available for a private and confidential chat in our pharmacy consultation room, something 15 per cent of people said was a benefit of visiting a pharmacy for information and/or advice about a health-related concern.
“As part of our role in supporting community health, we are encouraging customers to shop for affordable, healthy and sustainable food. Now, we want to encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources and support available in Tesco pharmacies to help people live healthier."
Tesco and the health charity partners hope that shoppers take advantage of the convenience of having their local pharmacist in store. Customers can easily seek advice when they do their weekly shop and get support for making positive changes or seeking information on concerning signs or symptoms.