Feel sick? 111 will send you to chemist, not GP

PAtients with sore throats and earaches will be offered same-day appointments with pharmacists to avoid them having to see GPs.

Anyone who calls the nHs 111 helpline with an apparently minor ailment will be offered a consultation at their nearest high street chemist.

the department of Health estimates that up to 20million GP appointments a year could be safely dealt with by pharmacists.

the measures will come into force in october and aim to ease the pressure on GPs, who are struggling to cope with demand. they are part of a five-year nHs deal with pharmacists.

but some patients will be worried about seeing a chemist who is considerably less qualified and experienced than a family doctor.

there are also concerns about whether nHs 111 call handlers are always capable of recognising whether a symptom indicates a minor ailment or something more serious. to deal with this, the department of Health is promising to ensure all pharmacists are properly trained in spotting sepsis.

they will be taught to be extra vigilant to the ‘red flag symptoms’ of breathlessness, a rapid heart rate, a high or low temperature, or confusion.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said that in France patients see their chemist as a first port of call. ‘Pharmacists are integral to community health and i want to move towards the French model, where they offer a wider range of services and play a stronger role in the community,’ he said.

‘We want to support our incredible pharmacists, helping them to offer more health advice and support more patients. this five-year deal will ensure more people get support in the most appropriate setting, which helps relieve pressure on the wider health service.’

since January, patients calling nHs 111 in some areas of england have had appointments booked for them at GP surgeries.

this service only applies to those who have been assessed by a doctor or nurse over the phone and deemed in need of a consultation.

the chemist appointments will be offered to all patients with minor problems such as coughs, colds, sore throats and earaches. Professor Helen stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘Whilst this scheme is welcome, it is not a silver bullet to addressing the pressures in primary care.

‘Pharmacists – or any other primary care professional – must not be seen as substitutes for GPs, so efforts to recruit more family doctors, retain the existing GP workforce, and make it easier to return to practice after a career break must continue and be redoubled.’