Pharmacists have said the sector is facing its own crisis after the UK government was reportedly considering enlisting their help during NHS strikes.
They say pharmacists are more than capable of carrying out some diagnoses and prescriptions, but the sector is under the same crippling pressure as the NHS.
Up to 100,000 NHS nurses in the UK are set to walk out on Dec. 15 and 20 over a pay dispute with the government, adding pressure to the service which is already grappling with record waiting lists following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
The Telegraph reported on Saturday that ministers were considering a plan to give chemists permission to diagnose patients with minor conditions and prescribe antibiotics to ease winter pressures for the NHS, but the reported plan was not met with enthusiasm from pharmacists….