17 January 2024 , 08:29
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When Joan Johnston was stung by a bee in her garden last summer, she didn’t expect to be left fighting for her life. As the wife of a beekeeper, it had happened many times in the past without incident.
On this occasion, however, the 66-year-old knew it was much more serious.
“The sting was in my scalp, but I had tingling that started in my lower legs and was gradually coming up my body,” Joan recalls.
“I phoned the GP surgery who told me that the first line treatment for bee stings was to get an antihistamine. He advised me to go to the pharmacy.”
Within 10 minutes, Joan was standing at the counter of her local Boots pharmacy and was able to talk through her symptoms with the pharmacist.
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“I was given an antihistamine very promptly, but I then started to feel very faint and knew I needed to sit down. I became breathless and within minutes, I collapsed.
“What I didn’t realise then, but which I know now, is that I was having a full-blown anaphylactic reaction. The pharmacist, Stephen, took control of the situation and was able to give me an adrenaline injection - it all happened very quickly.”
Joan had an anaphylactic reaction after being stung by a bee (Alan Lewis)“The whole team acted in a very professional manner,” says Joan. “If it hadn’t been for Stephen, things could have been very different.”
“I’ve been stung previously and never had a reaction,” adds Joan. “There’s no known cause why someone would suddenly develop an anaphylactic reaction. It’s one of those things that can happen to anyone at any time. It can be fatal.”
Joan says that being able to walk straight into her local Boots pharmacy and receive immediate healthcare without the need for an appointment was a vital factor in her recovery.
Now, thanks to the upcoming launch of the new NHS Pharmacy First initiative, patients in England will be able to get more help than ever at their local Boots, with pharmacists able to provide some prescription-only medicines for seven common conditions*.
As qualified healthcare professionals, Boots pharmacists are on hand to offer over-the-counter medicines and clinical advice on many common minor health conditions, from aches and pains, to sore throats and verrucas.
If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, they can signpost you to a healthcare provider or service to get the right help.
Boots has 2,100 stores across the UK where over 4,300 pharmacists are supported by over 12,900 pharmacy technicians, dispensers, advisors and healthcare sales assistants.
Over 80% of the population lives within 10 minutes of a Boots store too, and most are open after 6pm and at weekends.
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Through the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, Boots customers in England will be able to get access to advice and treatment, including some prescription-only treatments for seven common conditions, without the need to see a GP.
Pharmacists will be able to provide treatment, which may be an over-the-counter treatment or prescription-only treatment if deemed appropriate.
Most Boots stores have a consultation room where customers can discuss a condition confidentially with one of the pharmacists.
“With the introduction of the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacies like Boots will have an extended role,” says Joan.
“They are already playing a great role in treating minor ailments, and are so much more than dispensing drugs. My experience made me realise just how valuable they are in the community.
“I’m with my EpiPen all the time now, and while I, thankfully, don’t have any other medical conditions, if I were to have something minor, I would be very quick to go to my local Boots pharmacy for help and advice.
“I’m very thankful for the team at Boots, especially Stephen, who I still see when I visit the store. We have a laugh about it now - and my husband has moved the bees from our garden!”
Find the right healthcare advice for you at boots.com/healthhub
*Supply of treatment is subject to a suitability assessment. In most stores in England only. Subject to availability and store opening hours. Charges may apply.