Blooms the Chemist St Ives

02/03/2026

⛷️A skiing holiday in Japan took a tragic and terrifying turn for 24-year old Australian Anna Gallo last month when she fell acutely ill with and .
😰On February 5 Anna and her boyfriend Liam were due to fly home to Queensland, but Anna became unwell - shivering and vomiting uncontrollably - with what they thought was food poisoning.
🛫Just hours before take-off, Liam saw a rash of red spots was blooming all over Anna's body.
🚑Liam's decision to call an ambulance at that moment saved Anna's life.
She had become delirious and now has no memory of the ambulance trip or the days that followed.
👩‍⚕️Doctors at Tokyo's National Center for Global Health and Medicine diagnosed Anna with meningococcal B, which had rapidly escalated into meningitis and septic shock.
🛏️She fell into a three-day coma, her life supported by machines and intravenous antibiotics.
💉Anna was a victim of the "vaccine gap" - having no vaccine protection against the type of Meningococcal most common in Australia, Meningococcal B.
"I was vaccinated for meningococcal ACW Y in school, but not for type B, which is the kind I got," Anna says.
‼️Over 80% of cases of meningococcal in Australia are Meningococcal B.

Anna's experience shows how critical it is to close that vaccine gap across ALL Australian states and territories by making the vaccination FREE in all states not just some of them.

Read the full story here: https://ow.ly/fptu50YlJGs

01/03/2026

Hello all, a fellow Snivers that we know is in a bit of a pickle and we're wondering if we could get some help.
(Without giving away too much information) This man is terminally ill and now is in need of a new rental home to move to. He is not sure how long he has left, and he is constantly in quite a bit of pain. He has a co-dependent who unfortunately isn't in the best shape either. The main things he needs help with are:
1. If anyone has/knows of a 2+ bedroom place with a garden for a gentle but big Siberian husky (yes he is terminally ill but he does wish to keep the dog please), with 2 car spots (does NOT need to be a garage, just a driveway that he can park on and doesn't have to walk far/up a slope to the house), ideally 1.5 bath (doesn't need to be 2 bath but need 1 extra toilet as the condition involves a lot of issues there) that they are willing to rent out.
Ideally, under $850/week, doesn't need to be in St Ives.
(P.s. he can't do much stairs either)
2. If we can gather a few people, in a few weeks hopefully, when we do work out a place he can move to, to help him one weekend to help pack up his belongings, and/or pitch in to tidy up the place/garden. A lot of pain is involved in his terminal condition, and so he's only able to be on his feet for a few minutes at a time. Even an hour of your time to pack up a cupboard would be great help. Either message us or leave a comment and we will try to organise a date.

Any help is very much appreciated.

*The person is not a Blooms employee or associate.

23/02/2026

Come speak to us about the new way to administer adrenaline!

Introducing , the first needle-free adrenaline nasal spray approved for use in Australia 🙌

Individuals at risk of anaphylaxis and their carers are encouraged to speak with their treating doctor to discuss which adrenaline device best meets their needs.

Marking the first major development in anaphylaxis treatment in more than 30 years, neffy® gives those at risk of anaphylaxis another treatment option. It's a single-use nasal spray containing one dose of adrenaline, suitable for those aged 4+.

We've been working closely with the Australian distributor of neffy® to ensure we can provide you with accurate information on this new adrenaline device and tell you what you need to know. Visit the new neffy® section of our website for all the details: https://loom.ly/6YKLg9U

14/02/2026

Happy Valentines Day!

14/02/2026

** Mobility Aid ordering machine in store! **

We are now partnered with Medihub to provide SAME DAY DELIVERY 📨on a range of Mobility Aids RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP!

👵🏻🩼🦽🦼

Drop by and have a look today :)

29/01/2026

Stay cool this weekend!

25/01/2026

Watch this space!

A world-first Australian study suggests a simple saline nasal spray could help cranky, overtired children sleep better by easing obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

Researchers from Monash Children’s Hospital and partner institutes found that in half of 150 children aged three to 12, symptoms improved after three months of a daily spray.

The condition - affecting about one in 10 children - can cause snoring, breathing pauses, behavioural issues and disrupted sleep.

Surprisingly, the saline placebo performed as well as steroid nasal sprays, potentially sparing some children from surgery.

Doctors say parents should speak to their GP, with saline offering a cheap, safe first step before specialist care.

28/12/2025

The new Pfizer vaccination LP8.1 is available at our pharmacy on all days except Saturdays. Please call us ahead to check availability.

Influenza (flu) cases in NSW are higher than we usually see at this time of year. COVID-19 and RSV levels are low.

Tips to protect yourself and others from respiratory illness:
- stay up to date with your vaccinations
- stay home if you're sick and wear a mask if you need to go out
- avoid crowded spaces and get together in well-ventilated spaces
- if you’re at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or flu, make a plan with your doctor about what to do if you get sick, including what test to take, and discussing if you are eligible for antiviral medicine
- don't visit people who are at higher risk of severe illness if you are sick
- consider doing a rapid antigen test (RAT - available for flu, COVID-19 and RSV) before visiting those more vulnerable
- practice good general hygiene, like regular handwashing.

If you or your loved one is unwell, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free, 24/7 medical advice from a registered nurse.

We continue to monitor and the next NSW Respiratory Surveillance report will be available on 8 January.

For more tips to protect yourself and others from respiratory illness, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/respiratory

28/12/2025

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free instant advice from a registered nurse, or they can put you in touch with the appropriate health service.

Regular GP closed over the holidays?

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free instant advice from a registered nurse and get connected with the care that's right for you.

The nurse can find you an alternative GP, pharmacist or urgent care service, or connect you to a doctor online

To find out more, visit
www.health.nsw.gov.au/callhealthdirect

22/12/2025

We are calling on people of all faiths and communities in NSW to come together and do one mitzvah – an act of kindness or charity – to bring some light into the world. This could be as simple as volunteering time, giving blood or checking on a neighbour. Register your good deed at nsw.gov.au/onemitzvah