A CHEMIST’S shop in Ripon is taking a new approach to community health.

The Marsden Pharmacy on North Street has become the second in the country to sign up to Careway, part of the international Celesio group.

It now offers free, enhanced services for a range of conditions, including skin health, pain management and smoking cessation and will soon be offering anti-malaria and diabetes testing.

The pharmacy’s new skin offering includes the high-tech addition of a skin analyser machine and covers all aspects of skin health from medicines management advice for people on prescription treatment to medicated skin products.

Local radio presenter Alex Cann helped launch the enhanced services and pharmacist Valerie Goodman said: “We’re proud to be pioneers in this project.”

She added: “It will do so much to help patients help themselves. We want to help people feel confident about discussing their health problems.

“Instead of going to their GP or A &E for minor ailments, people can receive expert advice here.”

Pain management is another area where the team now offer enhanced support.

Ms Goodman said: “We provide services that complement those of other healthcare professionals, giving one-to-one support in modern surroundings.”