A pioneering scheme has been launched to give patients the option of seeing a chemist instead of a doctor.
Three GP surgeries and four pharmacies in Witham are taking part in the pharmacy minor ailment pilot project.
Under the scheme, patients seeking an appointment for any of seven minor ailments are offered the option of a referral for an immediate pharmacist consultation, rather than waiting to see a doctor.
The minor ailments in question are headache/ear- ache/temperature, indigestion or heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation, head lice, hay fever and vaginal thrush.
The aim of the scheme is to free-up GPs' time for more complex cases and give patients faster access to health services.
Taking part are the doctors' surgeries at Witham Health Centre in Mayland Road, Douglas Grove Practice in Douglas Grove, and Fern House Practice in Newland Street.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, January 12, 2005
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