Training materials from Nutricia Early Life Nutrition will be going out in the January editions of Pharmacy Magazine and Training Matters, showcasing the work CIG Healthcare has carried out with them to support effective customer conversations around infant feeding problems.

While pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are trained healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are qualified to advise on infant feeding problems, their knowledge and skills in this area are an untapped resource. Mystery shopping carried out on behalf of Nutricia Early Life Nutrition found that 45 per cent of parent queries were referred to a health visitor or GP, rather than to an in-store HCP.

In order to help parents access advice through pharmacy, we developed a Conversation Aid with Nutricia. This practical, re-usable wipe board, which will be included in a belly-band in Pharmacy Magazine and Training Matters, empowers support staff to gather key information on the baby’s symptoms and refer parents to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician with confidence. In addition to the Conversation Aid, pharmacists will receive a guide to help train their team on using materials effectively.