Community pharmacists in the Tyne and Wear health action zone are taking part in a project to try to measure the extent to which they can reduce the workload of general medical practitioners. Patients who contact three participating GP practices about coughs, colds and stomach upsets are being offered the option of advice from a pharmacist instead. Those who qualify for free prescriptions are also given vouchers for free over-the-counter medicines. The instigator of the project is the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, which approached the Tyne and Wear HAZ in January, 1999. The scheme has received funding of £60,000 from the Tyne and Wear HAZ and £20,000 from the PAGB, and will run for four months from the end of November.