It’s no secret that right now, the NHS is under an incredible amount of strain. Even prior to the pandemic, the increased pressures on the system were causing problems, and as the BMA now reports, post-COVID-19 circumstances are even worse. Workers in the healthcare system report record waiting times for referrals, let alone cancellations and refusals to refer due to lack of capacity.
The NHS is underfunded and understaffed, and the pandemic caused a backlog that they are still struggling to work through. So, what can the public do about it? Well, as a whole, it turns out, people can do quite a bit, like using your local pharmacy.
One major problem the NHS has is that its A&Es and GP surgeries are not being used for the correct purpose, with people often using them for minor ailments because they are not aware of the alternatives available. However, one of these fantastic alternative services that the UK has at its fingertips is the local pharmacies – and they are an excellent first port of call for minor issues when people want to get over-the-counter medication and equipment. But just how excellent are pharmacies? Let’s check.
More Convenient
As community pharmacies are found in almost every town in the UK, the chances are that you are closer to one of these than the nearest major hospital or GP practice. Although not all are open 24 hours a day, most operate slightly longer than office hours opening, meaning that even if you are a full-time worker, you should have the opportunity to get to one throughout the week.
In fact, some pharmacies now operate a 24-hour-a-day system using locum pharmacists from Workflare. Thankfully, this means that if and when you’re desperate for over-the-counter medication for a screaming baby at 3 am, these pharmacists are there and able to help.
Shorter Waiting Times
It doesn’t seem to matter what time you enter an A&E in the UK; you will have at least a few hours to wait to be seen (provided your problem isn’t life-threatening). The lengthy waiting times are often down to people struggling to get a doctor’s appointment due to the shortage of doctors and availability, and when they are worried about their health, waiting a few hours in A&E to be seen and treated seems like a good trade-off.
However, what people fail to note is that pharmacies can help with minor issues, which means many people unnecessarily go to A&E for help. Pharmacies and their staff do not just dispense medication; pharmacists are also qualified clinicians and can diagnose and treat minor ailments and injuries there and then without the long waiting times that you will find in hospitals.
Confidential Advice from Medical Professionals
Your local pharmacy offers more than just filling your prescriptions. In fact, they provide a whole host of other services, such as emergency contraception, one-to-one confidential consultations, smoking cessation treatments, weight management, needle exchanges and much more.
Also, particularly since the pandemic, many pharmacies offer vaccinations such as flu jabs, COVID vaccines and chicken pox inoculations. However, if you’ve been taking the medication for quite some time and understand it well, you don’t need to wait in line for it. People struggling with anxiety often buy Librium 25 mg online as it rids them of the stress of moving around in public when they don’t want to. This is a great advantage of using your local pharmacy as well – you can buy your medication without having to worry about privacy or judgment from others.
Helping the NHS as a Whole
The NHS as a collective needs the help of the UK public. The easiest and best way for everyone to take the pressure off the struggling healthcare system is to make sure that its services are used appropriately.
By making the local pharmacy your first port of call for minor problems, not only will you receive quicker treatment, but you will also be helping the NHS and its overworked staff recover and operate as quickly as possible.
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