Can We Put Our Faith In Pharmacists Above Doctors? | Good Morning Britain 

Let me give you all a first hand account as a pharmacist. Firstly, it takes 4 years at university to qualify with a pharmacy degree followed by a one year training programme and passing an exam to become a pharmacist. On top of this to become a prescribing pharmacist you need to have worked for 2 years in a clinical setting and then go back to university for 12 months to gain that qualification and so that is a 7 year process, so I hope this somewhat answers the qualifications question. Secondly, the new plans by the government sound good on paper but in practice I can tell you it only adds significantly more pressure on pharmacies which are already underfunded and overworked, trust me I’ve seen it from a GP perspective and a pharmacy perspective and can definitely say pharmacies are more overworked that a GP surgery is, just keeping up with the volume of prescriptions is difficult let alone ensuring the stock even comes in as many items are out of stock constantly. Contrary to many peoples belief it is not a matter of picking up a box from the shelf and bagging it. Without the extra man power such as an additional pharmacist on site that is available for these walk in services it becomes very difficult for the pharmacy to operate effectively and safely for patients, as always this all comes down to funding and without adequate funding this scheme will simply not enable patients to access pharmacy services in a timely fashion. The doctor raises the point about patients he consulted that thought they had a urine infection and it was kidney stones and cancer. It is highly likely although I can’t be certain this was not picked up first time round when they saw a doctor and were initially treated for a urine infection that then consequently didn’t improve which prompted further investigation. Unfortunately, this is how medicine works you work from the most to least likely cause. Thirdly, GP surgeries are privately run by the GP partners but have an NHS contract and so provide NHS services, this is the same way pharmacies run, they are privately run entities with an NHS contract. Additionally, they raised the issue of antimicrobial stewardship, i and all my colleagues have seen countless prescriptions for antibiotics that have been prescribed outside of the national and local guidelines, but trying to get through to speak to a doctor to query it is challenging particularly when patients are waiting for their antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance doesn’t happen overnight it takes many years usually for the resistant strain to become more dominant and so this doctors point about worrying about antimicrobial resistance is slightly hypocritical when it is the overprescribing of the antibiotics by doctors that has led us to this position. I am all for community pharmacy playing a bigger role in the healthcare service but adequate funding needs to be in place for this to work, so far I am not convinced.

Im a Pharmacist with over 10 years of experience. I’ve worked in BOTH retail and clinical setting. We truly care about our patients and their health and wellbeing…and I have a great relationship with many PHYSICIANS 🙏

This private GP has a conflict with of interest because this new initiative will harm his bottom line

Pharmacists should not be promoting this scheme. Not because they are incapable of providing consultations but because most likely this will result in an increase in workloads BUT NO INCREASE IN PAY! Locum rates have already dropped. I have never worked in a Pharmacy that is not busy. We're better off just sending them to the GP rather than taking on additional workload and stress

Who the heck goes to the Dr unless they absolutely have to with a sore throat? No one I know does. I would say it is a small minority of people that do that. Most people wait weeks and months if it’s something like that and excuse it as a cold or a virus until it really starts to worry them that it’s been going on far too long!

05:35 I’m glad Suzanna pushed back on that many people cannot afford private GP’s 🤷🏾‍♂️ And Ed balls is INSANE if he thinks the NHS isn’t broken because it’s BEEN broken !

Sadly there not really such a thing as family doctor nowadays just a doctor that you may or may not get a phone call from if the receptionist decides it's important or not

The Pharmacist is a lot more qualified than a receptionist.

As usual Doctors are more concerned with losing out on the £120 consultation fee which people wouldn't need to pay if they can go to the pharmacist for free 😂

As a pharmacist, we are more than qualified to have these conversations. It's very easy to say no to a patient. We often have just as much training in minor ailments as Drs. The audacity of ITV to bring a private Dr to talk about what ifs. It's in his benefit for the NHS to fail... Why not bring an NHS doctor?

We sometimes have ro wait 30 min for the medication let alone consult

Its a good idea, and i reckon it will work for some pharmacy's. But my local Lloyds pharmacy is one of the worst pharmacy's there is. They are always so busy, not enough staff massive cues, so i reckon this will not work for some pharmacy's.

Who will be preparing the prescriptions if they are doing appointments?

We don't have a choice 😂 pharmacists are available more than GPs for sure!

Ms Govind loves pharmacy so much she re-trained as a solicitor, so I'm not sure why she has been chosen to represent the profession.

But there is a shortage of qualified pharmacists as well. They are great professionals. However they also are overworked. On top of that given the push to keep the elderly at home with care they are inundated with requests for their many medications to be dispensed in dosette (supposedly to lessen the risk of errors!)boxes that they are actually dispensed by the pharmacy assistants whose qualifications are not nearly as rigorous. . I used to teach medication management for support workers and the medications errors happening in that context is mind blowing. I think giving the already overworked pharmacy even more responsibility is putting everyone concerned on a slippery slope for disaster . Think about the potential for ligitation!

What could possibly go wrong? 🙄 5 years later………… 🙄

That GP is ridiculous. He is not willing for pharmacists to take on more responsibility because it will affect his business and it will mean less money in. He has admitted he works as a private clinician who asks for £120 per consultation.

Well when they go to pharmacy unless it is a simple cold patients are asked to go to see GP anyway

Don't know your past medical history with illness or medication before

A few years ago my wife had a mark on her face,she went to the chemist and was given cream it did nothing and got bigger and darker, she went to a different chemist was told its a wart,a few months later she was at the doctors with something else and the doctor said let me look at your face,2 weeks later at hospital and 1 week later having it cut out and 3 months of treatment, she had skin cancer so I think the doctors is best,chemist for small things.

So, can I sue the pharmacist for negligence if I'm misdiagnosed with negative consequences?

Private isn’t an option for some people!

I would trust my pharmacy too.

Perhaps the GPs should work longer.

As a pharmacist I sort of agree with the GP - so I always make sure I act within my own competence. If I feel I am out of my depth I'm referring back to the GP, simple as that. Minor ailments I can manage, anything more can be difficult.

She says they can be seen by a pharmacist immediately. At the moment maybe, but as more people go to them for help they will soon be inundated and access to them will be limited.

A pharmacist can refer to a&e or a specialist GP like a GP does. At least pharmacists are more available.

Good

For me physician and pharmacist doctors are important and needy same each no more, no less, physician can never treat thier patients with out prescription of medication (drugs), and those drugs are pharmacists are made. And they know exactly what are the substances all inside those drugs and what they are for... And also without physician you can't make surgery and other relating... That's why the two are completing each other and important same each other,!

Are pharmacy trained to diagnose medical conditions

8:33 Is she saying that this new plan will bring more investment into the pharmaceutical sector? If so, how?

Answer yes , because pharmacists work very hard and GPS dont, GPS get funded during training, like bloody dentists, then when they qualify, the bastards go private.

No. Both work together to benefit from our sickness.

Agree with the doctor 110%

I had a UTI and just used the antibiotics that had been prescribed for my cat that I had left over. They worked perfectly!

The NHS doctors are seemingly like a bunch of bad car mechanics, just doing enough to get you back on the road, but not healthy again - this seems to be the cause of the majority of repeat visits. If you die it will be on someone elses watch and not their fault. Given the NHS's attitude to antibiotics, most of the problems seem to stem from under-prescribing/dosing, causing the bug to not get completely killed and now immune to that antibiotic. Then the patent has to go back for another round with incrementally stronger drugs - until nothing stronger is available. I fear pharmacists will not be able to make the call and prescribe suitable strength antibiotics from the get go.

This doctor is really afrad of losing his passion by the people finding out they are not that important unless they get in a car accident.

Clinical pharmacist know BNF more than anyone, that’s where all the doctors get their medicines prescribed from

Why don't we just ban the old from seeing a GP altogether? after all we are a burden.

Let’s keep saying the National Health Service is the most efficient in the world, that will save the glory of our Nation

2 weeks to get a GP appointment... pathetic.

Pharmacy First=Profits for private companies👍

😂😂😂😂

Absolute caution is required before implementing this. I do not think pharmacists are fully clinically experienced to recognise symptoms diagnose or recognize differential and anything red flag ...as any of this will still require GP intervention and ongoing investigations. Pharmacy sector is working fine presently no need for further changes. This appalling experimentation on the needful public is cruel. Dr M

terrible idea. ive worked with so many pharmacists who have limited knowledge and care very little about their job. no single healthcare professionals advice should be taken get a wide range of advice to be the most confident

6th richest country in the world ❤ Bliss.

Why not import witch doctors

A GP see you 5 min at most ! local doctor of pharmacy spends more time with patient .. plus it takes 4 years of pre requisite then apply for pharm D then another 4 years of training plus residency !! If you specialize 2 more years ! Average 8 to 12 years to become a Pharm D ., GP do not like the competition it cuts their bottom line

I agree with the doctor,it will not work.Our chemist is actually in the health centre where our doctors work & our chemist isn't qualified to analyse patient's illnesses.Our nearest chemist is 21miles away.

It's not above doctors tho, it's alongside doctors

Im sorry but he tories have destroyed thr G.P service this sticking plaster hasn't worked and wont work ,because some pharmacies are corrupt and offer poor service, prior to the tory cuts, you phoned and got an appointment, 15 -20m consultation , got the prescription, processed it at the chemist , all good ....can anyone claim the current system is working? A big fat No..they think we will settle for some quick fix in the hands of unqualified people because of their failure...tories out !!! Save the NHS

The way I see it, they’ll soon ask to be allowed to perform surgeries. Scope creeping at its best.

GPs are not public servants. Most are independent contractors. They run businesses. Where do you find these uninformed guests?

But thir not doctors or they would be one

How about lrt ambulance be fire men next she does not no what she's on about

Bloody arrogant doctor stops every Pharmacist initiative dead in their tracks😂. Then he tells her off by saying she'll take on the 8am morning rush for the doctors, mocking her skill. Its becoming something of a rival profession at this stage, but Doctors see no threat, but I've already made my money.😂🎉😅

What a condescending comment about taking lessons from Scotland 😡

GP are medics chemists are not

Do people actually realisexwhybtuecnhs and young peoplexare in a terrible state !! Don't get a muslim woman to comment on it??

I agree with the lady...she certainly NOSE what she's talking about! :P

All symptoms of the body breaking down are the same, but the causes are different. Doctors figure out the causes, and Pharmacist supply the medicine.