People in the Bath area could get more convenient and timely expert advice for a minor illness by opting to go to their local pharmacist first instead of the GP, it’s been suggested by the NHS.
In a survey of people in the South West, 80 per cent said they were aware that pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can give advice on most common illnesses.
However, just 16 per cent said they would get advice from the pharmacist for minor health concerns.
The NHS is urging people to use their pharmacy first in a move which could help free up GP time for sicker patients and help save the NHS around £850 million each year as well as save time for busy families.
Around 95 per cent of people live within a 20 minute walk of a local community pharmacy, making pharmacists extremely accessible and a valuable first port of call for minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, tummy troubles or teething.
Around 18 million GP appointments and 2.1 million visits to A&E are for self-treatable conditions – such as coughs and tummy troubles – at a cost of more than £850 million each year to the NHS.
This is the equivalent of more than 220,000 hip replacements or 880,000 cataract operations.
The NHS is working with community pharmacies to increase the range of patient services they provide including asthma audits and flu vaccinations and to promote the clinical expertise available from the pharmacy team.
NHS England South East Deputy Medical Director, Professor Marion Lynch said: “Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals who can be trusted to give advice for minor health concerns.
“It’s important people trust their instincts and use the most appropriate service available. Pharmacy is not only quicker and easier for patients, it also frees up more GP appointments for those who do need a doctor.”
The call for people, in particular the parents of children under five, to use their local pharmacist first for advice is part of the Stay Well Pharmacy campaign. It is backed by pharmacists and Netmums, the UK’s biggest parenting website.
A survey conducted for the campaign showed that while 73 per cent of people in the South West agreed they trust advice from their pharmacist, there were misconceptions about the level of service this highly trained group of healthcare professionals can offer in terms of advice and expertise.
The survey also showed that 27 per cent of people in the South West felt it is difficult to discuss health concerns in private with a pharmacist, with many not being aware that more than nine out of 10 pharmacies have a private consultation room.
Also 27 per cent felt they would need to visit the GP anyway, so go direct to the doctor in the first instance.
However, NHS England found that among adults in the South West who have received advice from a pharmacist in the past six months for themselves or their child, 70 per cent found it useful and 22 per cent needed to go to the GP afterwards.
Fiona Castle, Local Pharmacy Committee Lead said: “We know how worrying it can be when a loved one is unwell, and it can be particularly distressing to see children who are poorly.
“However, this campaign is encouraging people, particularly parents, to remember that their local pharmacy teams can offer fast and convenient clinical advice for minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, teething or tummy troubles, with no appointment needed.
“Most people live within easy reach of a pharmacy and many pharmacy teams also offer extended opening hours.”