RESIDENTS are being encouraged to have their say on important pharmacy services in Warrington.

The town’s health and wellbeing board is in the process of developing an updated pharmaceutical needs assessment for the borough.

Residents are now being invited to read the draft assessment and share their views to help ensure the assessment reflects local need, both now and in the future.

The document concludes that across Warrington as a whole, there are no pharmaceutical needs that cannot be met by existing services currently or over the next three years.

It adds that residents are ‘adequately served’ in terms of the range, availability and accessibility of community pharmaceutical services.

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for housing, public health and wellbeing, said: “Your local pharmacy is a good first point of contact for dealing with the vast majority of health concerns.

“It can often be the first place people turn to when they have a concern about their health or that of their family.

“Pharmacists can give you expert advice to help with minor health conditions such as a cough, cold or a sore throat, they can help you to manage some long-term health conditions and provide vaccinations such as the annual flu jab.

“This is why it is important we look into the needs of our population and how pharmacies can continue to meet these needs.

“I want to ask everyone to get involved and take a look at the assessment and share their views, which will help us to shape the future of services in Warrington.”

The assessment draft is available to view at warrington.gov.uk/PNA

The consultation is now live and will run through to June 10. All feedback must be provided using the consultation questionnaire.