Pharmacy chain Whitworth Chemists plans to make at least 80 per cent of its 34 branches healthy living pharmacies (HLPs) – including stores outside the scheme's pilot areas.

Although Whitworth pharmacies in Hull, East Riding, Sheffield, Gateshead and South Tyneside PCTs had been selected as pathfinder sites, the company has pledged to give every member of its team the opportunity to train as a healthy living champion (HLC), including in stores outside pilot areas.

The pharmacy chain has embraced the programme in case it becomes a national service, with a focus on the "behaviour change agenda" including smoking cessation, alcohol, weight management and sexual health services, said Whitworth superintendent pharmacist Jay Badenhorst.

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The study, published online in The Lancet, "clearly demonstrates how pharmacists can improve safety and effectiveness of prescribing by GPs", a DH spokesman said. "The evidence for this type of close professional relationship to support patients in primary care is growing and emerging clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will want to consider how to access the robust pharmaceutical expertise they will need to optimise medicines use."

"I am extremely pleased to launch this exciting new way of working," said Mr Badenhorst. "We have been working for a number of years to develop our teams and environments to champion proactive delivery of professional services, healthy lifestyle advice and customer service to help reduce health inequalities in their local communities."

The decision to start turning most of the company's branches into HLPs was made a year ago, Mr Badenhorst said, with Whitworth funding all HLP training itself through C+D Training. So far 45 staff members have attended HLC training days, with 30 staff members completing C+D Training's Well Being course, accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health.

"Whitworth is one of the first multiples to fully embrace the HLP concept across all its branches, and it was great to see senior members of the management team fully engaged with staff on the training days," said C+D Training's Patrick Grice.