AAH Customers help quitters

With help from AAH’s All About Health service, Spa Pharmacy in Cheltenham was one of many AAH customers which successfully used National No Smoking Day on 10 March as an ideal opportunity to promote its smoking cessation advice and products.

Ajit Malhi, head of marketing services for the company said: “All About Health has been highly successful in encouraging consumers through the pharmacy door. We have designed specific supports for pharmacists within All About Health around the various national health days.

“These allow pharmacists to maximise their impact with customers leading to increased sales of related products and services.

“The national health days attract huge publicity and the All About Health support allows pharmacists to exploit that awareness at a local level.”

Spa Pharmacy in Cheltenham set a stall up outside their premises with banners and balloons clearly demonstrating what they were up to.

Pharmacy Assistant Fran Slade said: “The day was very successful. We had spoken with our AAH representative in advance and took on board the advice on how to engage with the public without frightening them away.

“One gentleman came to see us and decided that this was the day to give up smoking. I took his carbon monoxide readings, went through the Q and A session with him and he went away with patches and lozenges.

“I have seen him again since and though he feels that he no longer needs the patches he has agreed to continue to be monitored – and he is only five minutes away should he feel a relapse coming on. This makes our job all the more satisfying.”

Ajit added: “Offering services and promoting them on days like this not only helps to place pharmacy on the local healthcare map but also offers ample opportunity to cross-sell related products.

“However, it is vital the patient understands that any related products form part of a wider, ongoing and holistic programme to a set of agreed goals.”