More than 10,000 pharmacies in England can now diagnose and treat patients for several illnesses and health conditions.
As part of what is being described as a “major transformation” in the way the NHS delivers its care, from today (31 January), people in England will be able to get treatment for seven common illnesses and health conditions just by heading down to their local high street pharmacy, all without needing to make an appointment to see a GP or getting a prescription.
More than nine in 10 community pharmacies in England – a massive 10,265 locations in total – will now be offering the “groundbreaking initiative” to patients.
NHS England says it wants to make it “easier” and “more convenient” for people to access care.
This new scheme – which is part of the NHS and Government’s primary care access recovery plan – is apparently aiming to free up around 10 million GP appointments each year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The full list of illnesses which can now be diagnosed and treated by NHS highly-trained pharmacists across England are:
Sinusitis
Sore throat
Earache
Infected insect bite
Impetigo
Shingles
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (under the age of 65)
“GPs are already treating millions more people every month than before the pandemic,” explained Amanda Pritchard, who is the Chief Executive of NHS England, as the scheme begins its national rollout today.
ADVERTISEMENT
“But with an ageing population and growing demand, we know the NHS needs to give people more choice and make accessing care as easy as possible.
“People across England rightly value the support they receive from their high street pharmacist, and with eight in 10 living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, and twice as many pharmacies in areas of deprivation, they are the perfect spot to offer people convenient care for common conditions.”
Ms Pritchard called the scheme “great news for patients”, as she added that many pharmacies in England open late into the evening.
ADVERTISEMENT
The additional powers awarded to pharmacists today comes after more than 5,300 pharmacies in England began being able from December 2023 to offer women the chance to get a supply of the oral contraceptive pill over the counter, again, without needing to see their GP first.
The NHS expects that almost half a million women a year will be receiving their contraception from their high street pharmacist in the future.
It also comes as the Government has made £645 million of new funding available to support the continued expansion of community pharmacy services.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called today’s change “crucial” for patients in England.
Featured Image – gov.uk
News
Entire tram line suspended due to overhead line damage at Old Trafford
Daisy Jackson
Metrolink trams along the Altrincham line have been suspended due to damage to an overhead line near Old Trafford.
The damage, caused by a third party, has caused significant disruption for commuters across the Greater Manchester region this afternoon.
No Metrolink tram services are operating between Altrincham and Piccadilly, in either direction.
Large queues are already forming for buses at Piccadilly Gardens as people attempt to get home.
Engineers have arrived on site to try and fix the issue, but ‘significant disruption’ is expected to continue into the evening.
TfGM and Metrolink have also deployed staff to assist people with their journeys at all stops in the city centre as well as at Old Trafford, Trafford Bar, and Cornbrook.
Trams between Bury and Deansgate-Castlefield are unaffected.
Ticket acceptance is in place on the 245, 255, 256, 263, 281 and 285 bus services and on Northern Rail services between Altrincham and the city centre. Simply show the driver your Metrolink ticket or pass when boarding.
You can plan the rest of your journey online using the TfGM journey planner here.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.