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Pharmacists to help patients protect health during fasting
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent21 Aug 2009
Pharmacists are getting special training to help Muslim patients during Ramadan. And health experts fear seriously ill Muslims may miss vital hospital appointments during the holy month.
The Co-operative Pharmacy is training staff in 79 of its outlets to give advice to patients who want to change the amount of medication they take while fasting. Shops in Hanwell, Walthamstow, Enfield and Highgate are taking part in the scheme.
Barts and the London NHS Trust have also issued a plea to Muslims to look after their health and attend scheduled medical appointments. Lead cancer nurse Nuala Close said that she has seen a spike in missed appointments during Ramadan.
She said: "Some of our Muslim patients may not realise the importance of attending their appointment, particularly those who have been referred to us from their GP with a suspected cancer diagnosis.
"Patients need to understand that they are taking an unnecessary risk with their health if they miss their appointment, as to wait until the end of Ramadan could have serious consequences."
The Muslim Council of Great Britain said: "We urge all fellow Muslim brothers and sisters not to make their own decisions to alter doses or timings of medications without the guidance from their doctors or pharmacists."
The Trust's Muslim chaplain Jusna Begum said: "It is essential Muslim patients follow strict medication guidance in the knowledge that they are not breaking their religious beliefs. I ask all Muslims to make their health a priority and attend appointments."
Reader views (19)
Will the NHS do the same for the Jewish community on Yom Kippur... I doubt it.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France., 24/08/2009 07:20
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Its PC gone mad...
- Pete, woolwich, 23/08/2009 19:28
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Wow! What a "non-story".
But still amazing to see how the chattering ignorants among us still managed to get their knickers in a twist, because the word "Muslim" is mentioned.
- Sonny, London, 22/08/2009 12:37
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Thomas, London, what a strange person you are. Why on earth would anyone get so worked up such they boycott a business (that's what pharmacies are, like it or not) because they train their staff to provide better advice?
We live in strange times.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County, 21/08/2009 16:27
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I am certainly boycotting the Co-operative Pharmacy and any others that kow-tow to this bunch of self-harmers. Medicine is for genuinely ill people, not some medieval clique who decide to starve themselves.
- Thomas, London, 21/08/2009 15:38
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Is this a "miss" that means a cancelled appointment or they just didn't show up? Nobody should "miss" their appointments, it is a waste of the NHS's time and that of the doctors.
- Wd, Oxfordshire, 21/08/2009 15:21
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So why has this not been deemed a problem in previous years ?
- Jl, London, 21/08/2009 15:15
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Steve from Walthamstow - exactly right. The only time advice may be needed is when people are unsure whether they can take their meds at a different time due to the fast (GPs normally advise on this).
For the people who are complaining that fasting is self inflicted etc and so these people shouldn't be catered for - if that logic stands, the NHS shouldn't provide help for smokers, excessive drinkers or fat people. Great logic, well done, pat yourselves on the back for poorly hidden bigotry.
- H, London, 21/08/2009 15:13
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This is an important service! Muslims who take medication may still want to take part in the fast, as this is an important part of their religion. If you are ill you can opt out, but alot of Muslims will make every effort to observe the fast in full - as is their right. It is a pharmacists job to help their customers - whatever religion - with medication issues including how to fit taking it around everyday life. This looks like a great service.
- Judy, London, 21/08/2009 14:32
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Guys, this is simple economics. No-show patients cost the NHS a small fortune and deny people who want early appointments an opportunity to get an early lookin. Furthermore if someone screws up their medication programme then the NHS has to pay more to put it right. So in terms of NHS efficiency I'd say this is reasonable.
- Sally-Anne, Brentwood, 21/08/2009 14:06
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I'm with Elain on this.
Most people writing here are small minded and short sighted and dare I say, not very christian....
- Mark, St Albans, 21/08/2009 14:00
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in response to all the comments above!! if thats your atitutude then we shouldnt make special allowances for stupid people who smoke leading to cancer and alcoholics and drug abusers then should we they all have choices too!! and that does just happen once a year!! ignorant individuals!!
- Alina Karim, worcester, 21/08/2009 13:27
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Absolute nannying, PC, tax-wasting nonsense.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 21/08/2009 12:50
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Anyone who lives in London and pops in on a daily basis in Boots, Superdrug etc. knows that the overwhelming majority of the staff (including chemists on duty) are of Asian/Muslim origin. So I one think it is not entirely illogical that these chemists give kind medical advice to their kin who right now are not allowed to eat from dawn to dusk for a whole month!
Some of the comments here seem to me too tense/malicious.
- Elain, London, 21/08/2009 12:46
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This assistance is unnecessary - if one is ill then one is permitted to not fast during Ramadan, but instead to fast later or (if it is a chronic illness) to feed a poor or needy person. If one is taking medication for an illness then one need not fast, but continue to take medication as normal. There is also no need to miss a medical appointment. The purpose of fasting during Ramadan is spiritual purity, not to cause or exacerbate physical illness.
- Steve, Walthamstow, 21/08/2009 12:20
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Why change the way the system normally operates for such a reason?
If a Muslim's beliefs tell him/her to miss a medical appointment or not to take their medication, while respectable, it is their own choice, and neither the NHS nor any other branch of the public health system should go out of their way to help them as it is an avoidable choice, a choice they could choose not to make.
It is a nonessential choice they make and they have to bear the consequences - not the NHS or the system.
- Dino Mavridis, Manchester, UK, 21/08/2009 11:45
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So they might not take their medicine, So they Might miss an appointment....
SO WHAT..!!!!
- Whosyadaddy, Hackney, London, 21/08/2009 11:41
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NO NO NO if these people want to starve for a month then let them it is their choice they are not having a gun held to their heads. Medical help is there for people who are ill, not self harmers even though it is only for a month.
- Jan, Rye England, 21/08/2009 11:31
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I ask my chemist a question he says go see your GP, if you fast and do not attend a appointment for cancer thats up to you, perhaps they think god can cure them which is fine no problem, but for crying out loud we all have choices in this world and if cancer not important to you then so be it
- Robert, Wales, 21/08/2009 11:24
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