The NPA’s annual Ask Your Pharmacist Week kicks off on Monday 7 November, giving UK pharmacists a public platform to highlight the important services they provide in the community. This year’s theme will be ‘Ask Your Pharmacist about Medicines and More’, a broad remit that allows pharmacies and pharmacy stakeholders to concentrate on local priorities.

NPA Head of Communications Stephen Fishwick said earlier in the year that the 2016 campaign would have a greater focus in using digital assets to promote pharmacy, and would involve a larger social media presence than in previous years. 

A range of AYP materials have been made available on the NPA website, including promotional press materials, templates for social media posts and local newspaper columns, a Medicines and More window poster and leaflet and a PowerPoint presentation to support promotional activities.

Activities taking place during AYP Week typically include: 

• Visits by mayors and MPs to pharmacies
• Public exhibitions (in libraries, shopping centres, sporting venues and town halls)
• Pharmacists on local radio and columns in local newspapers
• Window displays in independent pharmacies
• Pharmacists presenting to local community groups
• NHS commissioners, pharmacy students, health charities and others supporting the week on social media to encourage people to make more and better use of their pharmacies.