Dungannon West Recycled Teenagers & Boots the Chemist
Learning from one another
Dungannon West Recycled Teenagers (DWRT) aims to relieve the poverty and sickness suffered by the senior citizens in the area. The group’s objectives are to tackle social isolation, improve confidence, learn together and have fun along the way!
The Recycled Teenagers along with Boots the Chemist, Dungannon applied for a Level 2 BCPP project which would take place with a group of 14 men and women aged 65 to 90 years old. This BCPP project offered a unique opportunity for the partners to learn from one another and look at specific concerns and how they impact on health.
Recent research carried out for Dungannon West showed that there was a significant link between deprivation and poor health outcomes in the Ballysaggart area and therefore there was a need to provide interventions at a local level. The area of benefit for the project suffers significant levels of income deprivation and lower than average performances around health, disability, housing and the social environment.
Speakers from Citizens Advice Bureau, Arthritis Support and Action on Hearing Loss were just some of the community/voluntary organisations who ran sessions along with the Pharmacist throughout the programme. From hearing loss to holistic treatments and everything in between, all the sessions were really engaging and very well attended. A really interesting session explored bone mass, falls and their impacts on health and lifestyle.
The Pharmacist is now more aware of groups from the community and voluntary sectors which means that he now signposts with confidence and shares information with his colleagues offering a more rounded service for the users of the Pharmacy.
It has been fantastic to interact with the community in a way that removes the ‘white coat’ and provides a unique opportunity to build great community relationships. The group were keen to decide for themselves what areas should be covered resulting in a service user driven programme aimed at improving health literacy and combating preconceptions made about health and wellness. It has been great to see the improvement in understanding amongst the group in terms of disease management and self care as well as their understanding of where and when the Pharmacist can help them during their health and wellbeing journey. I’ve really loved being part of it!
Eamon O’Donnell, Pharmacist
