Pharmacists in the UK are trained in much the same way as those across the rest of Europe, yet we tend to think of them differently. In France, Spain and Germany the pharmacist is a natural first port of call for minor ailments — everything from conjunctivitis to piles — whereas in the UK many of us still regard a pharmacy primarily as somewhere to go to get a prescription filled. I generalise, but it is an attitude the NHS is keen to change. NHS England has launched the Stay Well Pharmacy campaign to encourage people with minor health concerns to consult their pharmacist rather than their GP. Appointments with doctors for self-limiting conditions such as colds and most coughs, or complaints such as hay…

Source: The Times February 13, 2018 00:00 UTC