Pharmacists in the UK will soon be able to prescribe medicines and oral contraception to patients without GPs’ sign-off. This is an attempt to ease the pressure on surgeries.
According to PM Rishi Sunak, treatments for seven common conditions – including earache, sore throat and urinary tract infections – will be available without seeing a doctor. He hopes the measures will help end the “all-too stressful wait” for appointments by freeing up 15 million slots at doctors’ surgeries over the next two years. This reform is hoped to be introduced this winter after consultation with the industry. This also implies that over half-a-million women would no longer need to speak to a nurse or GP to get oral contraception. The other medications that pharmacies would be able to hand out would treat conditions are sinusitis, infected insect bite, impetigo and shingles.
According to The Independent, the number of people able to access blood pressure checks in pharmacies would be more than doubled to 2.5 million a year. Self-referrals will also be increased for access to services such as physiotherapy, hearing tests and podiatry without having to see a GP first.
“I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP practice when you or a family member desperately need an appointment for a common illness,” Sunak said, “We will end the 8am rush and expand the services offered by pharmacies.”
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard has termed this move as an “ambitious package” that will help transform how care is provided within the health service.
Thorrun Govind, the chairwoman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in England, said the plans are a “real game-changer” for patients.
