A PHARMACIST is now treating patients and dishing out antibiotics thanks to “fantastic” new scheme aiming to ease the strain on struggling GPs. 

Amrik Wilkhu, 59, runs Elmsleigh Pharmacy in Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh, one of 10,000 chemists across the UK which can now treat seven common conditions.

Echo: Patients can speak to a pharmacist in a consultation room.Patients can speak to a pharmacist in a consultation room. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

The new scheme, introduced by the government on Thursday, enables pharmacists to treat sinusitis in those aged 12 plus, sore throats in those aged five plus, ear infections for children aged between 11 and 17, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles in those aged 18 plus, and women with urinary tract infections.

It means high street pharmacists can prescribe medicine such as antibiotics, saving the need to book a GP appointment.

Mr Wilkhu said: “We’ve been looking for a service like this for a long time. We’ve never had anything at this level before.

“It saves people waiting, so they can get seen to straight away.

“It will save thousands of appointments for GPs, freeing them up to see people with more serious conditions.”

Echo: Amrik Wilkhu has been a pharmacist for 37 years.Amrik Wilkhu has been a pharmacist for 37 years. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

However, Mr Wilkhu admits UK pharmacies are facing pressures amid a recruitment crisis.

He said: “Like any industry at the moment, it’s difficult. This is another service to fit in when we’re already busy. When we were offering Covid and flu jabs in December, the queue was out the door.

“The pharmacy’s workload is increasing, but we’ve got a new pharmacist to help out. It’s going to be challenging but it’s nice to have the ability to prescribe medicine.

“At the end of the day, the patient benefits from instant help and the NHS benefits as it reduces the number of people we have to refer to Accident and Emergency when the GPs are closed.

“We’re picking up the slack. After Covid, GPs are struggling, so it’s harder to get appointments.”

The pharmacists have received “strict guidance” from the NHS, through patient group direction documents, which outline the criteria for each of the seven conditions and the right medicine to prescribe.

Elmsleigh has already helped three patients since the scheme began on January 31.