Boots has refreshed its pharmacies as the health and beauty retailer prepares to launch a condition-led service to support people as they live longer.

The new approach will provide customers with more information and assistance on living with long-term illness, starting with diabetes and eventually including conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

Boots has made pharmacy signage clearer for customers so that they can access the right services.  

Boots director of pharmacy Peter Bainbridge said: “Customers are living longer but are also sicker for longer and we recognised we need to support and care for them, providing the best care we can.

“In the past we haven’t spoken to customers about specific medical conditions, which customers are really worried about, so we’re providing more information and more advice.”

Bainbridge said Boots also aims to help ease pressure on the NHS by increasing the number of pharmacies it operates in hospitals.

The diabetes information service launches in store on May 30, providing customers with a support pack. Boots pharmacists have also been trained about the disease in order to give customers personal support to manage diabetes.

Bainbridge said more services for specific illness could be introduced if there is customer demand.

Boots has been bolstering its pharmacy service offers recently, launching travel clinics in 20 stores and to be rolled out to 100 stores by the end of the year. It also has GP surgeries in 23 stores and one dental practice.

The health and beauty retailer has also launched a ‘pharmacy and health’ area on its website, making it easier for customers to navigate.