People who need prescriptions for common conditions will soon be able to access their script from a Windsor pharmacy instead of having to go to their GP surgery under a new NHS plan.
The government intends to spend £645 million over the next two years to expand the services at community pharmacies. As part of this, they will be able to provide prescription-only treatments for seven conditions, which are sore throats, earache, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, infected insect bites, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, by the end of 2023.
It will also increase oral contraception and blood pressure services at pharmacies, so people can access these more easily.
By expanding the services local pharmacies offer, the NHS hopes to save ten million appointments at GP surgeries a year.
Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: “The demands on general practice have never been greater, with record numbers of appointments being delivered – half a million more every week compared with pre-pandemic.”
She noted there has been a “significant drop” in people being able to access their GP surgery over the last year, as a result of such high demand.
Indeed, a recent GP patient survey revealed 13 per cent of the British public think services are currently poor or very poor. This is predominantly due to not being able to get an appointment, followed by not being satisfied with the appointment they have been given.
“This plan responds to patient feedback and sets out measures that will make a difference now to staff and patients, focusing efforts on taking pressure off teams, and supporting general practice to manage the 8am rush, and restore patient satisfaction with improved experience of access,” Dr Doyle stated.
There are currently only 36,525 fully qualified GPs working for NHS England in March 2023, equating to 27,306 full-time GPs.
According to the British Medical Association, the number of full-time fully qualified GPs has dropped by 2,059 since 2015, increasing pressure in surgeries and making it less inviting for doctors to train as GPs.
NHS England will soon publish its Long Term Workforce Plan, which includes increasing GP speciality training. It will also encourage other doctors to work in general practice, forming a multidisciplinary team to relieve the pressure on GPs.
Additionally, it wants former GPs to return and will replace multiple assessments with an individual pathway to make the process simpler. GPs who already work in the practice will be encouraged to stay through pension improvements.
To reduce strain on GPs, patients will be able to self-refer for certain specialists, such as physiotherapy.
Patients using the NHS App will also be able to see their records and messages, order repeat prescriptions and book medical appointments by next March.
Lastly, NHS England intends to cut red tape, such as reducing requests to GPs to verify medical evidence, so doctors can spend more time giving patients quality care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Qualified independent prescriber pharmacists can prescribe certain medicines following a clinical assessment. In addition, NHS Pharmacy First enables community pharmacists to provide treatment or supply prescription-only medicines for selected common conditions without the need for a GP appointment.
NHS Pharmacy First allows participating pharmacies to assess and treat several common conditions, such as sore throat, sinusitis, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in eligible patients. Availability may vary depending on local NHS services.
No. Pharmacists complement GP services by managing suitable minor illnesses and prescribing where appropriate. Patients with complex conditions, ongoing health concerns or symptoms requiring further investigation will still be referred to their GP or another healthcare professional.