Simon Jones: Pharmacies feel the strain

We’re all familiar with the notion of optometry practices relieving the strain on creaking hospital departments and easing the burden on the NHS, but as pharmacists can attest, easing that burden can be a double-edged sword.

The current pressure on GPs, hospitals and industrial action by nurses and paramedics has ratcheted up the pressure on pharmacists, and some have begun to push back on GP referral schemes, saying the pressure of treating complex medical needs is putting patient safety at risk.

Max Punni, the owner of 11 pharmacies, recently told BBC Points West: ‘We’ve had people coming in with eye infections, Strep A, I had a patient come in who had been sectioned, who came in and self-harmed and was bleeding in the pharmacy. We’ve seen a large increase in the number of people being referred – sometimes inappropriately.’