‘Winter fit’: the role of community pharmacy in protecting older people during the winter period

The ‘winter fit’ intervention was a pilot programme that aimed to protect individuals aged 65 years and over through community pharmacies in south west London, providing support and referrals related to winter warmth, cost of living and other health-related issues. The initiative covered six London boroughs, and involved the implementation of incentivised 15-minute conversations by pharmacy staff with older people, advising them on how to stay fit and healthy during the winter. This saw 77 pharmacies deliver 10000 interventions within 4 weeks between February and March 2023, with most customers being over 75 years old. Conversations focusing on staying warm, cost of living support, home care, fall prevention and staying connected, with 14.3% of customers being referred for further support. The older people who used this service, especially those who were digitally excluded, reported that they appreciated the ability of pharmacy staff to curate and impart information. However, some pharmacy staff reporting feeling reluctant to raise interventions, particularly with customers who were perceived as affluent. This article describes the winter fit intervention and the rapid evaluation approach used to assess the process and impact. Overall, this project demonstrates the crucial role that pharmacies can play in preventing health issues among older people and supporting local communities.