Lancaster pharmacy seeks to create a ‘welcoming space’ for men’s health

A pharmacy is offering a ‘trusted space and understanding ear’ to encourage men to access support earlier for a range of health issues.

The team of pharmacists at Brock Street Pharmacy in Lancaster has made it their mission to encourage people to seek help sooner, including men as part of Men’s Health Week.

The pharmacy has four private consultation rooms, and provides support for hair loss, erectile dysfunction, mental health and general wellbeing, alongside at-home prostate health testing kits.

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With men still 50% less likely to seek medical attention than women, the pharmacy wants to highlight the importance of early intervention and open conversations that can improve the health of men, boys and their families.

The co-owner and founder of Brock Street Pharmacy, Tariq Malik, said: ‘We’re increasingly supporting people with services they might otherwise struggle to access quickly, including men’s health.

‘Often, it’s about providing a trusted space and an understanding ear to make that initial conversation as easy and comfortable as possible.

‘Some men especially don’t feel comfortable booking a GP appointment, or may struggle to get one quickly, but they may feel able to pop into a pharmacy for a quiet conversation.’

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The pharmacy team said it hopes more people will begin to see their local pharmacy as a ‘first port of call’, not just for toiletries and prescriptions but also for a wide range of health and preventative care.

‘Pharmacists have never been needed more, so it’s great that people are finding how much more their local pharmacy provides, Mr Malik added.

The government's 10-Year Health Plan sets out the ambition to move more care out of hospitals and into the community, with pharmacists expected to play a key role in the creation of neighbourhood health centres and integrated neighbourhood teams.

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Mr Malik and his wife, Nabila Malik, have been practising pharmacists in Lancaster for 26 years. They moved their business into a restored Victorian meeting hall dating back to 1844 two years ago, hoping to expand and encourage more people to access healthcare.

Men’s Health Week started on Monday and runs until 21 June, with this year's focus on the role of high street pharmacies in supporting men’s health.

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