The consultations will be part of an ongoing, permanent service provided by the pharmacy.
Moama Village Pharmacy asthma educator and pharmacist Sherri Barden said hay fever could often trigger asthma.
“Our hay fever clinic is the next step in optimising treatment,” she said.
“Our pharmacists will provide tailored, one-on-one consultations in our private consultation room.”
Within the consultation, the pharmacist will gather a full history, check for alternate diagnoses, discuss trigger identification and minimisation, explore the risk of thunderstorm asthma, recommend the most suitable treatment options, and educate on best adherence to therapy, including correct technique for nasal sprays.
Ms Barden said research from the Woolcock Institute showed that half of all the patients that presented to pharmacies with allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) self-selected their treatment options, but only one in five purchased optimal treatment.
“Hay fever affects up to one in five Australians and up to four in five people with asthma have hay fever,” she said.
“If hay fever symptoms are not well controlled, people may experience a lack of sleep, poor concentration at work and school, a flare-up of asthma, and an overall poorer quality of life.
“Since the pandemic, it’s never been more important to have good symptom control, as people don’t want to be seen in public sneezing or blowing their nose.”
If symptoms are severe, if a patient is unsure of correct diagnosis or has experienced adverse effects from treatment options or treatment failure, the pharmacist will refer them to a GP.
Follow-up reviews will also be offered to all patients that attend the hay fever clinic.
Bookings can be made in store, by phoning (03) 5480 9555 or by visiting this online booking link: https://www.medadvisor.com.au/Network/MoamaVillagePharmacy
If patients have both hay fever and asthma, it is recommended they book with Sherri on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, as Sherri is both an asthma educator and pharmacist.
Moama Village Pharmacy and Meninya St Pharmacy will once again support the Zoe Kennedy foundation during National Asthma Week and for the month of September. The foundation supports progressive research into teenage asthma awareness, management and prevention.
Zoe Kennedy died tragically at the age of 14 of asthma in 2020 and was the niece of local GP Sam Kennedy.
You can donate to the foundation via https://www.figurehead.com.au/zoe-kennedy-foundation/
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