The Island’s MP Bob Seely has welcomed plans to allow pharmacists on the Island to issue prescriptions for common ailments.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Bob asked for reassurance that the financial package offered will "support [pharmacies] and make them feel valued considering what extraordinarily good value for money they are?"
Bob has spoken in support of the Island’s pharmacists on numerous occasions.
Speaking afterwards, Bob said. “Pharmacies are an incredibly valuable part of our communities across the Island. I am delighted that they are now being recognised as being a critical element in our community healthcare. Pharmacies are the first line in community healthcare. The more that we can enable pharmacists to do, the more we can help them stay at the heart of communities.”
The Pharmacy First scheme is part of a support package to help support GPs called the Primary Care Recovery Plan.
The entire plan sets out how the government intends to allow millions of patients faster access to care from their local pharmacies and GP surgeries.
This includes a pharmacy-first scheme, through which the government will invest £645 million over the next two years to enable pharmacists to provide treatment for a range of common conditions. Pharmacists will also now be able to supply prescription-only medicine for ear pain, severe sore throats, skin and urinary infections.
The plan will also invest the equivalent of £35,000 per practice to provide technology for GPs to ensure people don't get engaged tones when booking via phone and to make digital access for appointments easier. The government will also secure 26,000 clinicians and 50 million extra appointments by March 2024.
Bob said: “The Primary Care Recovery Plan is going to free up 15 million GP appointments over the next two years. This is going to improve the NHS' capacity to support those who need appointments most.”
These developments come in addition to the half a million more appointments delivered every week compared to pre-pandemic.
