Boots and Macmillan introduce in-store advisers
Boots parntering with Macmillan Cancer Support to place cancer advisers within its pharmacies as part of its efforts to improve the health services it offers customers.
More than specially trained 500 Macmillan Information Pharmacists will be in Boots’ high street stores to offer convenient, face to face advice to cancer sufferers and their families.
The newly created roles are the result of research that found a third of people affected by cancer felt that they had insufficient information and support outside of their healthcare team.
The initiative has also been developed to help deal with the rise in the number of people dealing with cancer in the UK, which is set to double to four million people by 2030.
Boots and Macmillan will use DM, email and their own community networks to promote the service.
A further 4,000 members of Boots’ healthcare teams have received specific training to improve their ability to help people affected by cancer.
Ciarán Devane, chief executive of Macmillan, says: “Macmillan and Boots UK believe that by sharing expertise and working together, we can reach even more of the millions of people affected by cancer than we are currently. Improving access and connecting people to Macmillan information and support in Boots stores will help us achieve our joint ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer and help build a legacy in the local community.”
