Pharmacists to trial drug scheme

Pharmacists will prescribe some drugs

A scheme aimed at easing the pressure on busy GPs is to be piloted in Scotland.

Details of the initiative - which has been hailed as a major step forward by pharmacists - have been unveiled by Scottish Health Minister Susan Deacon.

The scheme will enable people who are exempt from prescription charges to be given over-the-counter drugs without visiting their doctor.

At present all patients must visit their GPs before they can receive routine non-prescription drugs such as painkillers and cold remedies at prescription prices, even if they are exempt from paying for the treatment.

Susan Deacon unveiled the pilot project

But the project will allow patients including pensioners, children and low-income householders to get the reduced-price drugs direct from their community pharmacists.

This will save them time - while also saving their doctor time and effort.

A 12-month pilot project will start in the new year in Arbroath, Angus, and Patna, Ayrshire.

It is being overseen by researchers led by Professor Peter Noyce of Manchester University, who will report on its success in July 2002.

Earlier this month Ms Deacon announced details of the Scottish Executive's health plan.

These schemes will test out the benefits to patients in terms of access to advice and services, quality of care and equity of service

Health Minister Susan Deacon

It contained proposals to reduce hospital waiting times, cut bureaucracy and end "postcode prescribing"' in the National Health Service.

Announcing details of the pilot project, Ms Deacon said: "In line with the commitments in the health plan, these schemes will test out the benefits to patients in terms of access to advice and services, quality of care and equity of service.

"They will also test the benefits to both patients and the NHS of improved use of community pharmacists' expertise, and GPs' and nurse prescribers' time and skills.

"I am sure both eligible patients and primary care practitioners will welcome these schemes as a more practical method of ensuring that the public have access to over-the-counter remedies, which can play an important part in relieving the symptoms of colds, sore throats and flu."

Heavy workload

The move was backed by Alison Strath, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.

"There are approximately 1,140 community pharmacies in Scotland already acting as walk-in healthy living centres, with no appointment necessary," she said.

"Each has the potential to provide a wider range of convenient service to both the public and patients, whilst relieving their GP colleagues of some of their heavy workload.

"The pilot projects build on this principle, allowing community pharmacists to prescribe over-the-counter medicines to treat minor ailments on the NHS to those patients normally exempt from prescription charges."