Rowlands Pharmacy and Diabetes UK launch screening drive

Rowlands Pharmacy has allied with healthcare charity Diabetes UK to launch a programme to screen thousands of UK patients for diabetes this month.

The joint initiative will see patients issued with a seven-question Risk Score assessment developed by Diabetes UK, with aims to screen 12,600 people for type 2 diabetes by the end of September 2010, reports Chemist and Druggist.

Around 16 per cent of patients screened in the first week have been referred to their GPs as being at high risk of developing the disease, while one patient has been confirmed with diabetes who had previously been unaware of their condition.

According to Rowlands, the scheme represents a "key pilot" which will benefit both the over-the-counter sector and the NHS.

Rowlands' commercial service manager Nicky Dyson said: "We want to integrate this new Risk Score tool into our everyday practice so that Rowlands becomes the leading pharmacy partner in tackling the diabetes epidemic sweeping this country."

Earlier this year, the company was presented with Chemist and Druggist's Retailer of the Year award for 2010, while managing director Kenny Black was named Business Leader of the Year.