Should I see a GP or Pharmacist?

The NHS is under stress – as it forever seems to be. The demand for the service means that waiting times have been stretched as never before.

Increased demand means longer waiting times

The board of NHS England recently warned that the demand for GP appointments ‘outstrips’ the capacity to provide them. The situation in the other home nations is little better.

The good news is that many of the people waiting to see a GP don’t actually need a GP. In 2018, a government reportrevealed that a fifth of appointments are for minor ailments that don’t require a diagnosis. These appointments cost the service around £2 billion annually – to say nothing of the time, stress and energy expended by both patients and doctors.

By looking into visiting the pharmacy rather than the GP, you’ll take a burden away from the NHS, and give a spot to someone else. You can therefore look at this as a form of civic virtue.

Understanding minor illnesses and ailments

While there is no formalised list of minor ailments which don’t require intervention from a GP, patients can use their judgement about how severe the symptoms are, and what prescriptions are really appropriate.

If you have a headache, then the most sensible course of action is probably to take some over-the-counter painkillers and see whether the problem goes away. If the symptoms persist or get worse, then you can safely take that as a sign that it’s time to make an appointment.

Most doctors will discourage you from seeking medical advice from the internet. If you’re experiencing a set of symptoms that you’re not familiar with, then it’s probably better to err on the side of caution and get it diagnosed by a GP. If you know you have a common ailment, then the chances are that your pharmacist will be able to confirm your self-diagnosis and offer a hand.

How can your pharmacist help?

In many cases, your pharmacist will be able to recognise common ailments and recommend a treatment that might suit you. In many cases, your doctor might not even provide you with a prescription. They might simply direct you to the pharmacy. In some cases, an online pharmacy might provide you with what you’re looking for, and for a lower price, too.

Pharmacists aren’t just glorified shopkeepers with access to more serious medicines – they’re medical professionals in their own right. They should be expected not only to dispense medicine but advice, too. In some cases, of course, they might advise you to go to the GP. When this happens, it tends to be advice worth following.

Some patients might suffer from extra symptoms, or have a particular medical history which means that relying on the ongoing support and advice of a pharmacist can make a big difference.