General Chat

We are given a list of "minor ailments" where the pharmacist may be able to prevent a trip to the GP.

The advantage of using a pharmacist is the opening hours - far longer than the average GP's surgery.

I also found last year that I could register at one pharmacy (of my choice) and get things on prescription that I would normally have to pay for. I think this is for pensioners, but I asked for calamine lotion and got it free!

This may not apply outside Scotland - the NHS here varies quite a lot from the rest of the UK.

One of the things that concerns me is the way this is being reported, If I have a minor ailment such as a sore throat, a cold, a touch of the flu, or a slight stomach ache - I usually pop into the pharmacist/chemist and ask if they can give me something.

That said, a lot of articles in the press and on the media, are not really highlighting, that if you have a minor ailment, you should consider talking to your local pharmacist/chemist first, instead of making A&E or the doctor your first port of call, what the the press and media are doing is they are using their usual headline grabbing tricks and headlines like - Don't go to A&E; Don't go to your GP; Go to your Pharmacy, are misleading & these could have unforeseen consequences :-|

I think this advice is more aimed at those who do just go to A & E for anything.

My b.i.l. worked with a man who would go to A & E for everything, never went near his doctor or a pharmacy.

As for the pharmacist not knowing you. Most surgeries in London you are lucky to see the same doctor twice. So no difference there then......

My local pharmacist can now prescribe apparently. I haven't used him but a friend of mine got antibiotics prescribed by the pharmacist. I think this is quite a concern as the pharmacist doesn't know your medical history.

MY pharmacist, on the last prescription update, challenged the Gp on one of the new potions he dealt me, as it conflicted with summat else I was on.......

anyway we've got some guys from some far off land moved in over the road, they sit round a bonfire in the garden chanting, drinking, and sprinkling chicken bones around.........wish they'd put their rubbish in the bin instead.......KFC, have got a lot to answer for, methinks

and some others have got this wonderful smelling herb garden........ mind you it must be indoors cos the garden itself is a tip......
Bob

I used my pharmacist more than the doctor when my daughter was small for things like sore bottoms, niggly coughs etc. He was marvellous.

'Continuing Healthcare - The Secret Fund. 'Is demand for long term nursing about to tip NHS finances over the edge?'

'File on 4' on Radio 4 this evening @ 8pm'.

* Not exactly connected to this thread heading - but might still be worth a hearing.

They can advise about less serious conditions but I would not think they would be able to prescribe and that the would advise you to go to the doctor for something to serious for them to deal with.

You can usually see them at short notice whereas you can't always see your doctor until you are better.

I think with maybe coughs, colds and other simple things the pharmacy is a good first stop. But I can't imagine that they can treat everyone who would normally go to the GP. If they can why bother training doctors?

Don't go to A&E; Don't go to your GP; Go to your Pharmacy - I wonder where they will be telling people who are not feeling well to go next :-S

My local pharmacy/chemist is part of a chain and more time than not the pharmacist is a locum - I don't know them and they don't know me :-(