Boots UK is raising awareness of an underdiagnosed hereditary condition with the launch of a new training module, available to all community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Often referred to as ‘iron overload disorder’, genetic haemochromatosis (GH) causes the body to absorb too much iron from food and is one of the most common genetic disorders in people of Northern European origin. The condition causes the symptoms of fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain and skin discolouration, and without treatment can lead to serious complications, including joint and organ damage.

The training package from Boots UK and the Haemochromatosis Society has been designed to increase knowledge of the condition amongst pharmacy teams, as people with undiagnosed GH may present in pharmacy with the symptoms. In particular, pharmacy professionals should be alert to individuals seeking iron supplements to manage the tiredness, which can worsen the condition.

David Head, chief executive of the Haemochromatosis Society, commented: “It’s no exaggeration to say that improving the levels of knowledge and understanding has the potential to prevent very serious illness or even save lives. After all, GH is eminently treatable if diagnosed at an early enough stage.”

Boots pharmacists, pharmacy advisors and technicians can access the training via the company’s internal systems, while those at other pharmacies can request copies from the Haemochromatosis Society.