Cross Chemist Hitchin

01/10/2024

For those adults eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS will make them available at the same time, giving the option to get protection from both viruses in one visit.
Appointments are open now . Click the below link to book. Cross Chemist do provide walk in flu and Covid vaccine .

Book, cancel or change you COVID-19 vaccination appointment online.

06/09/2024

Flu vaccination remains a critically important public health intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality in those most at risk including older people, pregnant women and those in clinical risk groups. It helps the health and social care system manage winter pressures by helping to reduce demand for GP consultations and likelihood of hospitalisation. Vaccinating health and care workers also plays an important role in helping to prevent transmission of flu, protecting themselves and those they care for.

From 3rd October 2024 all eligible patients will get their flu vaccine:

Eligibility

-those aged 65 years and over
-those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter 19 - photo attached)
-those in long-stay residential care homes
carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
-frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

Ask our professional staff for more information.

16/08/2024

Mpox

Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) is a rare infection most commonly found in west or central Africa. There has recently been an increase in cases in the UK, but the risk of catching it is low.

How you get mpox

Mpox can be passed on from person to person through:

Any close physical contact with mpox blisters or scabs (including during s*xual contact, kissing, cuddling or holding hands)
touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with mpox the coughs or sneezes of a person with mpox when they're close to you.
In parts of west and central Africa, mpox can also be caught from infected rodents (such as rats, mice and squirrels) if:

you're bitten
you touch their fur, skin, blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs
you eat their meat and it has not been cooked thoroughly

Symptoms of mpox

If you get infected with mpox, it usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.

The first symptoms of mpox include:

a high temperature
a headache
muscle aches
backache
swollen glands
shivering (chills)
exhaustion
joint pain

The symptoms usually clear up in a few weeks. While you have symptoms, you can pass mpox on to other people.

13/08/2024

Scabies

Scabies is common and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading.

The symptoms of scabies are:

intense itching, especially at night
a raised rash or spots
The spots may look red. They are more difficult to see on dark skin, but you should be able to feel them.

Do:-

-wash all bedding and clothing in the house at 50C or higher on the first day of treatment.
-put clothing that cannot be washed in a sealed bag for 3 days until the mites die.
-stop babies and children sucking treatment from their hands by putting socks or mittens on them.

Don’t:-

-do not have s*x or close physical contact until you have completed the full course of treatment.
-do not share bedding, clothing or towels with someone with scabies.

Ask our professional staff for more information.

07/08/2024

Plantar fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis is where you have pain on the bottom of your foot, around your heel and arch. You can usually ease the pain yourself, but see a GP if the pain does not improve within 2 weeks.

Do:-

-rest and raise your foot on a stool when you can
-put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
-wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
-use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
-regular gentle stretching exercises
exercises that do not put pressure on your feet, such as swimming
-take paracetamol.

Don’t:-

-do not take ibuprofen for the first 48 hours
-do not walk or stand for long periods
-do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
-do not wear flip-flops or backless slippers
-try not to walk barefoot on hard surfaces

Ask our professional staff for more information . No appointment needed.

30/07/2024

An overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, is where the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones.

Common symptoms

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid can include:

nervousness, anxiety and irritability
hyperactivity – you may find it hard to stay still and have a lot of nervous energy
mood swings
difficulty sleeping
feeling tired all the time
sensitivity to heat
muscle weakness
diarrhoea
needing to p*e more often than usual
persistent thirst
itchiness
loss of interest in s*x

Common signs

An overactive thyroid can also cause the following physical signs:

a swelling in your neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre)
an irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate (palpitations)
twitching or trembling
warm skin and excessive sweating
red palms of your hands
loose nails
a raised, itchy rash – known as hives (urticaria)
patchy hair loss or thinning
weight loss – often despite an increased appetite
eye problems, such as redness, dryness or vision problems (see complications of an overactive thyroid)

23/07/2024

Impetigo:
Impetigo is a skin infection that's very contagious but not usually serious. Anyone can get it, but it's more common in young children. With treatment, impetigo often gets better in a few days.

Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin.
The sores or blisters quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches.
The patches can look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin, get bigger, spread to other parts of your body, be itchy and sometimes be painful.

WHEN SHOULD I SEEK HELP?

Impetigo usually gets better in around two to three weeks without treatment.

Treatment is often recommended as it can reduce the length of the illness to a week to 10 days and lowers the risk of the infection spreading to others.

HOW CAN I PREVENT THE SPREAD OF IMPETIGO?

It is important to take precautions to reduce the risk of impetigo spreading to other people, or other parts of the body, during treatment.

You are no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment or once your sores have dried and healed. You should stay away from work, school or nursery until this point.

Other precautions you should take include:

Washing hands regularly, especially after touching infected skin.
Avoiding sharing flannels, towels and bed linen with anyone with impetigo and wash them at high a temperature after use.
Avoiding touching or scratching sores.
Avoiding contact with newborn babies, preparing food, playing contact sports or going to the gym.
Washing/wiping toys

HOW CAN PHARMACY HELP?

Our Pharmacists can help people aged one year and over.

They will ask you about your medical history and other symptoms to exclude other conditions or complications that need urgent referral to your GP or other sources of help.

Our Pharmacist will consider if an antibiotic cream or antibiotics are needed. These can be provided by our Pharmacists without the need for a prescription from your doctor.

PHARMACISTS CANNOT GIVE TREATMENT TO:

Our Pharmacists are not able to treat infants under the age of one or patients with bullous impetigo.

There may also be other factors in your medical history that mean our Pharmacists cannot issue treatment. If this applies to you or your child, our Pharmacist will refer you to your GP or another source of help and treatment.

You don't have to book an appointment to consult with our pharmacist.
If you need more information do not hesitate to call pharmacy.

20/07/2024

What’s not to like about walking?

It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s easy on the joints. And there’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways.

26/06/2024

We provide a private microsuction earwax removal service at our pharmacy. Microsuction is considered one of the safest methods of professional earwax removal. Speak to a member of our team in-store to find out more.

What is earwax?

Your ear canal generates cerumen, often known as earwax. It is created to keep dust, bacteria, organisms, and foreign objects from entering the ear canal. Additionally, it reduces irritation of the ear’s skin caused by water. In some individuals, the wax can become hard and impacted over time, causing problems such as hearing loss or discomfort.

What are the main signs and symptoms of earwax buildup?

The signs and symptoms of blocked ears depend on the severity of the ear wax build-up. Generally, the symptoms can include:
earache
difficulty hearing
itchiness
dizziness
an ear infection
sounds such as high-pitched tones coming from inside the ear (tinnitus)
If your symptoms persist, they could be caused by other conditions so make sure that you check with your doctor.
How does the service work?
If you have a buildup of earwax that is affecting your hearing or causing some of the other above symptoms then our earwax removal service could help. Speak to a member of staff about the availability and cost of the service.

Microsuction is a safe and efficient method of professional earwax removal. A specially trained member of the pharmacy team will look inside your ear with specialist equipment and use a gentle suction machine to remove excess earwax.

It is recommended that you use olive oil ear drops or spray for 5-7 days before your appointment to soften the earwax. Olive oil ear drops or spray can be bought from our pharmacy.

26/06/2024

Changes to COVID-19 vaccinations
You will not be able to book a spring COVID-19 vaccine appointment online or by calling 119 after 29 June 2024.

The last date you will be able to have your spring COVID-19 vaccination is 30 June 2024.

25/05/2024

Period Delay tablets:

If you want to be period-free for a big event or holiday we can prescribe tablets. The tablets contain a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. Periods are triggered every month by a drop in progesterone levels. By keeping your hormone level high, you can delay your period for up to 17 days. If treatment is appropriate for you, we can prescribe tablets with no need for an appointment.

Norethisterone belongs to a group of medicines called progestogens which are female s*x hormones. These medicines work by mimicking the effects of female s*x hormones produced in the body.

Ask our professional staff for more details. No need to book an appointment.

18/04/2024

Are you eligible to top up your COVID-19 protection this spring?

-Adults aged 75 years and over.
-Residents in a care home for older adults.
-Individuals aged 6 months and over who have a weakened immune system.
(Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients.
Those being treated with systemic steroids for more than a month.
Those living with HIV.
Those receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy, including children who are about to receive therapy.
Those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Those who require long-term treatment for immunosuppression
Those with a history of haematological malignancy including chronic leukaemia, lymphomas, and leukaemia.
Those with genetic disorders affecting the immune system.)

Book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment:

Book, cancel or change you COVID-19 vaccination appointment online.