From Friday 28 August 2020 patients who are identified with symptoms on an approved list of minor ailments will be referred for a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist 

We are participating in this pilot with the aim of improving patient awareness of the highly skilled community pharmacists that can assist them with minor ailment self-care and to improve access to GP appointments for patients with more complex health issues.

Patients are seen in a private consulting room and asked about their medical history and symptoms and current medication in the same way they are asked by a GP. Where the pharmacist can provide you with self-care remedies they will do this and they will send details of your consultation back to the GP for continuity of your care. Where they feel you need to be seen by a GP urgently they will call the practice and we will ensure you are seen. You may also be referred back to your GP to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

Minor ailments that require over the counter medication are usually inexpensive and the local Clinical Commissioning Group is already cutting back on what GPs can prescribe. We are therefore promoting paying for low cost prescriptions in the same way you may pay for other incidentals e.g. a coffee or a magazine

The role of the GP practice is to offer our patients an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on the symptoms presented. If a patient presents with symptoms that can be treated the same day in an appointment with a qualified professional pharmacist and refuses this appointment, the patient will be offered a routine appointment on a future date – not on the same day as this has already been offered.

Children aged over 2 years are eligible for this service and should be seen by the pharmacist accompanied by a parent/carer for the listed symptoms. Children who are competent in decision making about their health may be seen unaccompanied.