A PHARMACY in Thornbury will now offer a new approach to community health following its launch of a new service concept.

LloydsPharmacy in Thornbury opened its new concept at a special event held at the pharmacy in Horseshoe Lane.

The event last Thursday (August 7) was led by pharmacy manager Eammon Doran and the ribbon was cut by Thornbury and Yate MP Steve Webb.

The Liberal Democrat MP was, last month, honoured by the Queen by being appointed as a member of the Privy Council.

The Thornbury team will now offer LloydsPharmacy’s new approach to community health, which has been developed to improve access to healthcare information and support.

As part of the transformation, the pharmacy in Horseshoe Lane now offers free services for a range of conditions, including skin health and pain management.

The pharmacy’s new skin offering covers all aspects of skin health from medicines management advice for people on prescription treatment to medicated skin products. A high-tech addition is a skin analyser machine.

Mr Doran said: “We are delighted to be a pioneer in a project that will do much to raise awareness of healthcare needs at a local level.

“What we want to do is help people discuss their health problems, offer support on how we can help them and how they can help themselves, all in relaxed surroundings where people can feel more comfortable talking about their concerns.

“The new skin analyser is a great addition to the services we offer. It looks at several different features, including hydration and elasticity, using scientific probes and a micro-camera. The results then help us to recommend the most suitable care routines and products.”

Pain management is another area where the Thornbury pharmacy team now offers enhanced support.

Mr Doran added: “We know many who suffer from long-term health conditions don’t always want to go to their doctor every time they have a question.

“Our dedicated and experienced team is supporting local residents’ healthcare needs by providing services that complement GPs and other healthcare professionals by offering convenient, one-to-one support in pleasant, modern surroundings.”

In line with this approach LloydsPharmacy offers an Online Doctor service, where customers can seek advice for a range of health concerns at: www.lloydspharmacy.com