Award-winning Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol has been busy raising awareness of two major health concerns: meningitis and bowel cancer.

Enthusiastic about promoting and supporting self-care, the Bedminster Pharmacy team thrive on finding innovative ways to engage and empower patients to make the right choices about their health and for World Meningitis Day actually turned the pharmacy orange!

Led by pharmacist Ade Williams, pharmacy staff donned orange t-shirts, blew up balloons and handed out Meningitis Now signs and symptoms cards and information leaflets.

Williams believes that pharmacy is in a unique position to offer advice to the public on a range of health concerns. “Providing information about the signs and symptoms of these conditions in community pharmacy will help to save lives,’’ he said.

‘‘We were shocked to learn that a Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer survey revealed in the South West, 1 in 3 people could not name any of the symptoms of bowel cancer. That's possibly 1 in 3 of our patients! We knew we had to do something.”
Alongside opportunistic conversations about bowel cancer, the team decided to have an awareness day, also partnering with its local fruit and veg shop. Patients were asked to complete a bowel cancer symptoms quiz, the winning prize being a handpicked fruit and veg basket, with everyone receiving symptom awareness information and bowel health advice.

“We know that increasing early diagnosis and providing lifestyle advice are crucial in beating bowel cancer,” added Williams.