The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7232 p70
18 January 2003

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Boots (www.boots-plc.com)

Public still widely consult GPs on minor illnesses

Large numbers of patients with minor illnesses are still consulting general practitioners rather than pharmacists, new research shows. This is despite good apparent understanding that a visit to the pharmacy, rather than a doctor's appointment, helps relieve pressure on the National Health Service.

The research, involving surveys of both the public and GPs, was carried out by Boots The Chemists.

GPs questioned said that over one fifth of their appointments could have been dealt with by a pharmacist. Nine in 10 GPs agreed that pressure on them could be relieved if patients consulted pharmacists about minor health queries.

The research also showed that a large majority of the public (84 per cent) felt strongly that visiting a pharmacist relieved pressure on GPs. People also believed that pharmacists were available at convenient hours (82 per cent) and that one of the greatest advantages of pharmacists was that no appointment was necessary.

Pharmacists were seen as being a good source of health advice, and there was high awareness that pharmacists could offer advice about treatment of skin conditions, bites, stings and headaches. Awareness that pharmacists could give advice on areas such as contraception or conditions such as asthma or diabetes was much lower. Around half of men, but only a third of women, said that they would seek contraceptive advice from a pharmacist. Over a third of people surveyed said they would prefer to consult a GP, rather than a pharmacist, on possible side effects of drugs. This rose to 57 per cent of those aged 18–24 and 42 per cent of those aged over 65 years.

Professor Tony Moffat, chief scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented that the constant message from pharmacy organisations, including the Society, was that the pharmacy should be the first port of call for minor ailments. He added that he would welcome further campaigns from the Government and large pharmacy retailers to reiterate that message, particularly in television advertising.

Pam Prentice, deputy director, Doctor Patient Partnership (DPP), said that patients' behaviour had been ingrained over the past 50 years and it would take time for it to alter. She believed perceptions were changing and that young people in particular were moving away from having the GP as their sole health care provider. The DPP will be launching a new campaign on how best to use GP services in April. Ms Prentice said that this would highlight self care.

Boots has produced a new in-store leaflet, "Take control of your health", which sets out health care options, such as the pharmacist, GP, NHS Direct and accident and emergency departments. It also highlights the advice available from pharmacists and various treatments for minor illnesses.