S
skyboy
You have obviously not worked in the health service so lets go right to the first stumbling block. Data Protection act and patient confidentiality.
When you go to a pharmacist for any medication even for something only the pharmacist can prescribe he asks you some simple qualifying questions to ensure he can make a decision. he does not however take your name and address or even ask your name he may ask about your medical history in relation to the drug he is prescribing ie are you diabetice , do you ever suffer from etc etc but that is NOT the same as seeing an actual medical history.
Pharmacists really would not want to be involved in all the data protection and patient confidentiality and information governance IT legal issues and staff training that would come with having access to patient records within a pharmacy environment.
Not only that but even if they did have access they would not be privvy to the care plan for that particular patient and the aims the surgery and gps had for that patient.
Then we come onto the idea that the pharmacist would know what to prescribe..hmm
There are so many outside considerations to make relating to the prescription of medications. Is it on the local authorities approved list , Is it a generic that can be used instead of a brand name to the same effect, Has the patient a history of dependence to prescription medication , Is the full medical summary available or are a lot of the patients notes still in paper form at his surgery and not yet summarised onto the computer.
As for Doctors being overun . . hmm lazy feckers who could easily catch up with their patients needs if only they were prepared to put in a weeks work like everyone else.
There is also another aspect.
Pharmacists do not earn GP wages but you can be assured that if they were in effect asked to do a GPs job they would pretty soon demand it.
Nope definately do not smudge the line between pharmacists and GPs . GPs are lazy and overpaid as it is without taking work away from them.
.. and pharmacists despite what you think would not be competent to diagnose and prescribe except for a few limited ailments , ie colds , flu , rashes, hay fever.
They also do not have the insurance cover for the task so you that would be another huge oncost to the NHS.
Lets not try reinventing the wheel , lets just fix the lazy squeaking one we allready have.
