The Seven Ages of Man

1. The Seven Ages of Man Narrator Linda Radford Lead role: Population of Hertfordshire Support act: Local community pharmacist 2007

2. ‘All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. His acts being seven ages’ 2007

3. ‘At first the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms’ Preconception, pharmacist’s role: • Support healthy lifestyle • Well woman support, preconception advice Advice to his pregnant mother: • Help with smoking cessation • Alcohol advice, currently advice no alcohol • Support healthy diet • Safe minor ailments support during pregnancy New parent support, pharmacist’s role: • Minor ailment • Feeding support 2007

4. ‘Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel and shining morning face, creeping like snail unwillingly to school’ Childhood, pharmacist’s role: • Minor ailment support • Childhood disease and medicines management • Reduce secondary smoke inhalation • Advice about immunisation 2007

5. ‘And then the lover, sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow.’ The adolescent, the pharmacist’s role: • Sexual health promotion • EHC • Chlamydia • Smoking cessation and advice • Alcohol interventions • Drug misuse support • Needle exchange • Medicines management • Healthy eating 2007

6. ‘Then a soldier, full of strange oaths, and bearded like thepard, jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, seeking the bubble reputation even in the canon’s mouth.’ Young adult, pharmacist’s role: • Public health interventions • Smoking cessation, • Healthy living • Support self care • Travel advice • Drug and alcohol services • Mental health support • Support for long term conditions 2007

7. ‘And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lin’d, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances; and so he plays his part.’ Middle age, pharmacist’s role: • Management of long term conditions • Public health interventions, screening • Blood pressure monitoring • Blood glucose testing • Cholesterol testing • Smoking cessation • Drug and alcohol services • Support for carers 2007

8. ‘The sixth age shifts into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, with spectacles on nose and pouch on side; his youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide for his shrunken shank; and his big manly voice, turning again toward childish treble, pipes and whistles in his sound.’ Older people, the pharmacist’s role: • Support of long term conditions • Medicines management, reviews in a consultation room • Prevent medicines wastage and safe destruction, • Falls preventions • Adjustments to help him take or use medicines • Improve access to medicines • Support social services 2007

9. ‘Last scene of all, that ends this strange eventful history, is second childishness and mere oblivion; sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything’ Vulnerable people, the pharmacist's role: • Palliative care • Carer support • Community nursing support With grateful acknowledgement to William Shakespeare (As You Like It, Act II, Scene7) 2007