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The pharmacy – or chemist’s – as we affectionately called it, used to be the beating heart of the high street. A familiar face would dispense anything from advice for an earache to the right factor of sunscreen to take on holiday. But for many of us, the local pharmacy is no more as local branches close and the friendly faces behind the counter become increasingly overworked and out of pocket.
The 'Pharmacy First' scheme, which launches on Wednesday, could fail as too many chemists are quitting for jobs in GPs. The CCA is now demanding an immediate recruitment freeze.
Pharmacists will be given extra powers to see and treat patients from this Wednesday and free up as many as 30 million GP appointments per year.
The Pharmaceutical Journal from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Chemists say relying largely on GP surgeries in England and Wales to deliver the vaccine is flawed as patients often struggle to secure appointments.