Plans to boost pharmacy services to take pressure away from GP surgeries must “address the toll on their mental health”, a leading pharmacist from Bradford has said.

Dr Mahendra Patel OBE’s call comes after Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey unveiled her plans to tackle the NHS backlog.

The Government’s paper, ‘Our Plan for Patients,’ states: “We will expand the range of services available from community pharmacies, increasing convenience for patients and freeing up GP time for more complex needs of patients.”

But according to recent research by the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, nearly 650 pharmacies in England have closed in the last six years. 

Dr Patel, a multi-award winning pharmacist and visiting professor at the University of Bradford, said: “Community pharmacies are often the first port of call for many people, especially for those with minor ailments.

"Pharmacists, as part of a regular service, also help patients manage their long-term conditions, such as asthma, more effectively. 

“With GPs seeing record numbers of appointments, pharmacists can help filter out those who don’t always need to see their doctor.”

He warned that increasing pressures on pharmacists and soaring costs must be tackled. 

He said: “There needs to be more investment along with upskilling of the wider pharmacy teams to ease the burden on the pharmacist themselves in delivering wider services.

“For those pharmacies who are under staffed, hiring locums comes with a much higher cost. 

“Remuneration must be appropriate to stop pharmacists leaving the sector. 

“We also need to address the toll on their mental health due to increasing pressures and, sadly, the abuse they receive from disgruntled patients taking out their frustration on them.”

In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Our £2.5bn commitment will support community pharmacies and improve integration with the NHS by expanding pharmacy services.

“Our plans will enable pharmacies to take referrals from NHS 111 online, provide emergency care for minor illnesses or symptoms as well as managing routine oral contraception without a GP prescription - which could see 2 million GP appointments a year freed up.”

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