Poll: Should pharmacists be based at GP surgeries?
Shropshire GPs have welcomed suggestions that would see pharmacists stationed in doctor's surgeries to ease the growing pressure on services.
The Royal College of General Practitioners has put forward the idea in a bid to cut down the times patients have to wait for appointments by letting pharmacists resolve day-to-day medicine issues.
And senior partner at Drayton Medical Practice in Market Drayton, Doctor Rob Richards said he would happily welcome the move.
"I am sure pharmacies save us a lot of work already," he said. "But with an ageing population of GPs and a lack of new doctors, anyone who is willing to lend a hand and help in this way is welcomed.
"It is interesting, because it is similar to the work of opticians. They do a lot more now than they used to – they refer to hospitals and tell patients if they might need eye drops or medication. They used to refer to GPs for us to do those things but now they bypass us completely and it works very effectively
"I am sure getting the pharmacists on board as well would be helpful.
"The only drawback is they are somewhat limited in terms of diagnostic skills."
GPs and their teams are predicted to make 370 million patient consultations this year – 70 million more than five years ago – due to an ageing population and more patients being treated for long-term and complex conditions.
According to RCGP research, there will be 67 million occasions when patients will have to wait a week or more to see a GP or practice nurse this year.
During this time the number of GPs has remained relatively level.
Under the plans, pharmacists would resolve day-to-day medicine issues, particularly for patients with long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes, and are taking a number of different medications.
Retired GP, Doctor Charles West, who worked in the Shrewsbury area, said he thought it would slightly ease the pressure on GPs, but would have huge benefits for patients.
He said: "I think this is certainly a good idea. I am definitely uncomfortable with people wandering into a pharmacy for help when they should see a GP because they haven't got the expertise. But similarly, there are things pharmacists can do better than us.
"It would give patients a better service. I think there are real benefits for patients all round but I wouldn't say it would make a massive difference to GPs."
