THE MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford has welcomed the role that Tesco’s pharmacies play in supporting local communities.

On a visit to the Winchester Tesco Extra story at Winnall, Steve Brine MP met store manager Sian Brookman, and pharmacy manager Harman Sanghera, to learn about the Tesco and Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ campaign.

This campaign aims to highlight the risk of type 2 diabetes and encourage customers to take a free online assessment.

Research by Diabetes UK showed that almost two-thirds of people either don’t know or aren’t sure what all the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are, raising fears cases could go undiagnosed.

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The campaign aims to raise awareness, and we are calling on more people to check their diabetes risk, through a free online service or in Tesco pharmacies.

The free ‘Know Your Risk’ assessment is available to all, will help people quickly identify any risk factors, and signpost people to appropriate support and advice to manage their risk.

The visit also enabled Mr Brine to discuss the role that Tesco’s in-store pharmacies play in supporting customers with expert healthcare support and advice, including through the Let’s Talk pharmacy service.

This service, run in partnership with Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, sees Tesco pharmacists provide free and confidential support to customers at risk of, or living with, some of the most common health conditions in the UK, including cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

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Mr Brine said: “Everyone in the health service thinks pharmacy can do more and they’re right, especially when it comes to prevention of ill health.

“Diabetes costs the NHS in England some £10bn each year so the impact of better early diagnosis is obvious.

“I am a huge supporter of this initiative from Tesco Pharmacy and want to see more of it across the prevention – and treatment of – many other conditions.”

The “Know Your Risk” assessment can be accessed at riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start.