Pharmacists able to prescribe.

I agree that it’s a good thing. Infections can quickly become septicaemia if not properly treated.

Pharmacists in Wales have been prescribing for a while and it seems to be working well.
annsixty my friend had an infected bite. She wasn't able to get a doctor's appointment and became ill. She went to A & E and was diagnosed with sepsis. The doctor said if it had been left longer it may have been too late so yes pharmacists are very valuable in these situations.

There is another thread 🙂
www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1332127-Pharmacists-can-prescribe-in-England-from-Wednesday-1st-February

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I need to praise my pharmacist. I woke up with a red eye no other symptoms but bit of a worry. He reassured me took my blood pressure and said it will take about a week to go. It looks bad but I was glad I was able to show it to someone. Anyone else had a red eye? Never knew anything about it burst capillary apparently. Anyway was grate to pharmacist.

I have a friend who’s a pharmacist. He is rung ragged with all the extra duties expected of them. Not only having to prepare prescribed medications as per G.P. Prescriptions but now having to see patients for consultations for minor health issues on a daily basis. There’s not enough hours in a day as far as he’s concerned……

I fear that the pharmacists will now become overloaded and suffer burn out as people will take all their problems to the pharmacist and not just the UTIs and similar infections which can receive a prescription for anti biotics from the pharmacist quickly.

Are they paid per patient seen Poppyred? Would it not be better for GPs to employ an additional practice nurse who is qualified to prescribe and able to refer to the GP if necessary.

i have had a red eye quite a few times. It is a shock as you feel nothing but a surprise when you look in the mirror. It takes 4 days or so to disappear. I mention it at my annual eye hospital check up for glaucoma and no one seems that bothered.

Neither do they seem bothered about visual disturbances or ocular migraines which I get about 3 times a year. I would rather visit an optician than a pharmacist if I were worried about either of these 2 complaints.

I find NHS 111 very helpful on the few occasions I have rung them and the doctor there will prescribe. What they would do with a UTI I dont know.
Would the pharmacist do a urine test?.

The only thing that concerns me about this is the lack of privacy. Unless there is a consulting room, all other customers will have details of your ailment.

I also have had red eye several times. Yes, it’s a burst blood vessel and is harmless, although it does look alarming. No treatment and it clears gradually over a week or so.

I was refused an antibiotic cream yesterday at Boots chemist, even though the pharmacist agreed the inflamed area needed it, he said it needed a doctors prescription or I was to phone 111, I dont understand how they can give out antibiotic tablets but not a simple skin cream.

I think it’s a good idea in theory but I suspect some people will see it as a way to try to obtain antibiotics which a GP might be reluctant to prescribe as it isn’t always the appropriate treatment despite what the patient might think. For example a sore throat or cough which is likely to run its course and resolve itself with paracetamol and honey and lemon along the way.

Antibiotic resistance is an ever increasing problem caused by decades of overprescribing unnecessary antibiotics . I can remember 40 odd years ago if my children were ill all it took was a phone call and an antibiotic prescription would be ready for collection a few hours later . Doctors now have strict guidelines to follow and pharmacists will have to hold strong and also adhere to the same.

Curtaintwitcher all the pharmacies here have a special built on small room for injections or consultations

I think the pharmacists will be well versed in antibiotic resistance GNW I don’t think they ll be any more likely to give them than the doctor Pharmasists are highly qualified

Do you make an appt to see a pharmacist...like you had to for Covid vaccination which worked really well and I expect was a money earner for the pharmacy as it is for the GP with flu vaccines etc.

Will the pharmacist eventually be like the GP and not be able to see a "patient" for several days? Will the dispensing of prescriptions also be delayed?

I agree BlueBelle. I wasn’t suggesting the pharmacists will be prescribing unnecessary antibiotics. But from recent conversations I’ve heard I suspect they will be on the receiving end of pressure from some patients to do so. I was sitting in front of 2 women on the bus yesterday discussing the matter. One of them said “at least we’ll get antibiotics when we need them now, my GP always refuses when I ask”
I feel sorry for the pharmacists with the extra workload they’re facing.

I have recently been put on beta blockers, I had a msg from my Doctors to say when I go to pick up the new meds to also ask for Bp check before taking them( app they can lower bp) so I asked the pharmacy and I could almost see her thinking oh I’m busy, which she was, I said I could go back , she said it’s ok If you hang on I will do it shortly, but I felt guilty asking her and dragging her away from her other duties. Normally I would pop to the nurse at the Doctors at an allotted time. I have to have another check in couple of weeks.