What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Saturday 8:30am - 12pm

The Spa Pharmacy

Home
United Kingdom
Cheltenham
The Spa Pharmacy

An independent community pharmacy serving Montpellier and Cheltnham for over 150 years. A free collection and delivery service - all local surgeries.

21/10/2025

Vaccines 6

Quiz & Answers

Q1. Why are vaccines important?
A1. They are the best thing we can do to protect ourselves against ill health.
Q2. What diseases do they protect against?
A2. Since vaccines were introduced into the UK diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people have gone away or are very rarely seen.
Q3. What happens if people stop having vaccines?
A3. It’s possible infectious diseases will quickly spread.
Q4. Why are measles and mumps starting to appear in England?
A4. Because less children are getting the MMR vaccination.
Q5. What percentage of children need to be vaccinated with the MMR to stop measles spreading completely?
A5. 95%.
Q6. How do vaccines work?
A6. Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases.
Q7. Are vaccines safe?
A7. All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child.
Q8. Who cannot have vaccines?
A8. People who’ve had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of vaccine, people with a weakened immune system.
Q9. What side effects are there?
A9. The most common side effects include: the injection site feeling a bit sore for 2-3 days, feeling a bit unwell or having a high temperature for 1-2 days, older children and adults may feel faint, feeling tired, having a headache, mild fever or flu-like symptoms.
Q10. What’s in a vaccine?
A10. Most vaccines contain a small amount of bacteria, virus or toxin that’s been weakened or destroyed in a laboratory first.

14/10/2025

Vaccines 5

Quiz

Q1. Why are vaccines important?
Q2. What diseases do they protect against?
Q3. What happens if people stop having vaccines?
Q4. Why are measles and mumps starting to appear in England?
Q5. What percentage of children need to be vaccinated with the MMR to stop measles spreading completely?
Q6. How do vaccines work?
Q7. Are vaccines safe?
Q8. Who cannot have vaccines?
Q9. What side effects are there?
Q10. What’s in a vaccine?

07/10/2025

Vaccines 4

What’s in a vaccine?

Most vaccines contain a small amount of bacteria, virus or toxin that has been weakened or destroyed in a laboratory first. Some contain chemicals that make your body think it’s coming into contact with bacteria, virus or toxin. This means there’s a very low risk of healthy people catching a disease from a vaccine. It’s also why you might see vaccines being called “live” or “non-live”.

Differences between live and non-live vaccine:
Live (weakened) vaccines contain viruses or bacteria that have been weakened, cannot be given to people with a weakened immune system and give long term protection.
Non-live (destroyed) vaccine contain viruses or bacteria that have been destroyed, can be given to people with a weakened immune system and often needs several doses or a booster vaccine for full protection.

30/09/2025

Vaccines 3

How safe are vaccines?

All vaccines are thoroughly tested to make sure they will not harm you or your child. It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests it needs to pass for approval.
Once a vaccine is being used in the UK it’s monitored for any rare side effects by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It is also carefully monitored to make sure it still works. Anyone can report a suspected side effect of a vaccination to the MHRA through the yellow card scheme.

What are the side effects of vaccination?

Most of the side effects are mild and do not last long. The most common ones include:
• The area where the needle goes in looking red, swollen and feeling a bit sore for 2-3 days
• Feeling a bit unwell or developing a high temperature for 1-2 days
• Older children and adults may feel faint
• Feeling tired, having a headache, mild fever or flu-like symptoms.

Some children might also cry and be upset immediately after the injection. This is normal and they should feel better after a cuddle. Common side effects usually pass after a few days.

23/09/2025

Vaccines 2

How Vaccines Work

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It’s much safer to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can give you lifelong protection.
Having a vaccine also benefits your whole community through “herd immunity”. If enough people are vaccinated, it’s harder for the disease spread to those people who cannot have vaccines i.e. people who are ill, have had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or have a weakened immune system.

16/09/2025

Vaccines 1

Why are vaccines important?

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases but beware of anti-vaccine stories which are spread online through social media and off-line. This information may not be based on scientific evidence and could put your child at risk of a serious illness. All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.

However, if people stop having vaccines, it’s possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again. Measles and mumps are starting to appear again in England, even though the MMR vaccine is the best protection against both diseases.

This is serious, as measles can lead to life-threatening complications and mumps can cause hearing loss. If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely. However, measles, mumps and rubella can quickly spread again if fewer than 90% of people are vaccinated. Since vaccines were introduced into the UK diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people have gone away or are very rarely seen.

09/09/2025

Osteoporosis 5

Quiz

Q1. What is osteoporosis?
A1. It is a health condition that weakens bones making them more likely to break.
Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?
A2. 549,000.
Q3. How much do these cost the NHS?
A3. More than £4.7bn each year.
Q4. How many people die within the first year of having a broken hip?
A4. 26%.
Q5. How many hospital bed days do hip fractures use each year?
A5. Half a million.
Q6. When are bones thickest and strongest?
A6. Up to your late 20s.
Q7. What are the most common injuries?
A7. Wrist, hip and vertebrae.
Q8. What increases the risk of osteoporosis?
A8. Taking high dose steroids, certain medical conditions, family history of osteoporosis, eating disorders, low BMI, not exercising, heavy drinking and smoking, long periods of inactivity.
Q9. How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
A9. Using an online programme such as FRAX or bone density scan (DEXA).
Q10. What medicines are used to treat osteoporosis?
A10. Bisphosphonates, SERMs, parathyroid hormone, biological medicines, calcium and vitamin D, HRT.

$Osteoporosis 4Quiz Q1. What is osteoporosis?Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?Q3. How much do thes...$

02/09/2025

Osteoporosis 4

Quiz

Q1. What is osteoporosis?
Q2. How many fractures happen in the UK each year?
Q3. How much do these cost the NHS?
Q4. How many people die within the first year of having a broken hip?
Q5. How many hospital bed days do hip fractures use each year?
Q6. When are bones thickest and strongest?
Q7. What are the most common injuries?
Q8. What increases the risk of osteoporosis?
Q9. How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Q10. What medicines are used to treat osteoporosis?

$Osteoporosis 3Treating Osteoporosis Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medicines...$

26/08/2025

Osteoporosis 3

Treating Osteoporosis

Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medicines to strengthen bones. Although a diagnosis is based on the results of your bone density scan, the decision about what treatment you need if any, is based on a number of other factors including:
• Age
• S*x
• Risk of breaking a bone
• Previous injury history

A number of different medicines can be used to treat osteoporosis.
Bisphosphonates slow the rate that bone is broken down in your body. This maintains bone density and reduces your risk of a broken bone. They are given as a tablet, liquid or an injection.
Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have the same effect on bone as the hormone oestrogen. They help to maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fracture, particularly of the spine.
Parathyroid hormone is produced naturally in the body. It regulates the amount of calcium in the bone. These treatments are used to stimulate cells to create new bone. You take them as an injection once a day.
Biological medicines work by slowing down the rate at which your bones are broken down and speeding up the rate at which your cells build bone. They are given by injection every month or every few months.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements. Calcium is the main mineral found in bone and having enough calcium as part of a healthy balanced diet is important to maintain healthy bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.
HRT has been shown to keep bones strong and reduce the risk of breaking a bone. Whether HRT is right for you depends on your age, symptoms and any risk factors you have. Discuss the benefits and risks with your GP.

19/08/2025

Osteoporosis 2

Causes of Osteoporosis

Bones are thickest and strongest in your early adult life until your late 20s. You start losing bone from around the age of 35. Losing bone is a normal part of ageing but some people lose it much faster than normal.
This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of broken bones. Women lose bone rapidly in the first few years after menopause, particularly if menopause begins early (before 45) or they have their ovaries removed and hence are prone to osteoporosis.
Many other factors also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis including:
• Taking high dose steroid tablets for more than 3 months
• Other medical conditions such as inflammatory conditions, hormone related conditions or malabsorption problems
• A family history of osteoporosis, particularly a hip fracture in a parent
• Long term use of certain medicines can affect bone strength or hormone levels such as anti-oestrogen tablets that women take after breast cancer
• Having or having had an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia
• Having a low BMI
• Not exercising regularly
• Heavy drinking and smoking
• Long periods of inactivity
If your GP suspects you have osteoporosis, they can work out your future risk of breaking a bone using an online programme such as FRAX. They may also refer you for a bone density scan. This is a short painless procedure that takes 10 to 20 minutes. Your scan can be compared to that of a healthy young adult.
The difference is calculated as a standard deviation (SD) and is called a T-score. A T-score above -1 SD is normal, between -1 and-2.5 shows bone loss and is defined as osteopenia and below -2.5 is bone loss and is defined as osteoporosis.

Photo by Laboritoires Servier – Creative Commons License

12/08/2025

Osteoporosis 1

What is Osteoporosis?

It is a health condition that weakens your bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. It develops slowly over several years and is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break (fracture).
Currently in the UK 549,000 fractures happen each year, including 105,000 hip, 86,000 vertebrae and 358,000 other fractures (pelvis, ribs, arms, clavicle etc). These cause severe pain, disability and reduction in quality of life.
Fragility fractures are estimated to account for 579,722 DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) lost annually, which is about the same as those lost from dementia. The cost to the NHS exceeds £4.7 billion each year, of which £2.6 billon occurs directly after a fracture and £1.7 billion for institutional care costs.
Hip fracture is the most common cause of emergency anaesthesia and surgery in older people. The mean hospital stay is 20 days accounting for half a million hospital bed days used each year with 3,600 hospital beds occupied at any one time by patients recovering from hip fractures. Loss of independence is common following a hip fracture with only 52% living at home after 120 days and 26% will die within 12 months of their fracture.

Photo by BruceBlaus – Creative Commons License

05/08/2025

Whooping Cough & RSV 6

Quiz

Q1. What is pertussis?
A1. It is also called whooping cough and is an infection that mainly effects infants and children.
Q2. What causes it?
A2. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Q3. What are the symptoms?
A3. Violent coughing, thick mucus, sore throat, may turn blue during coughing spells.
Q4. How long does whooping cough last?
A4. Several weeks or months.
Q5. How many cases of whooping cough were reported in the UK in 2024?
A5. 14,905.
Q6. What is RSV?
A6. Respiratory syncytial virus and is a common cause of coughs and colds.
Q7. How common is it?
A7. Almost all children get them at least once before they’re two years old.
Q8. Can it be dangerous?
A8. Yes for babies born prematurely, children under 2, people with chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease or weak immune system, adults over 75.
Q9. How is RSV spread?
A9. In coughs and sneezes of someone who has the virus.
Q10. What are the symptoms?
A10. Runny or blocked nose, a cough, sneezing, tiredness and a high temperature.

Address

12 Rotunda Terrace Montpellier Street
Cheltenham
GL511SW

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Saturday	8:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+441242522130

Website

http://www.spapharmacycheltenham.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Spa Pharmacy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Featured

Skin Redefined Medical Aesthetics
28a Hewlett Road

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Cheltenham?