A SCHEME designed to ease the pressure on GP appointments is now operating right across Bradford, with the vast majority of pharmacies in the district taking part.

Pharmacy First aims to help people get treatment for minor ailments faster by encouraging them to go straight to their local pharmacy, rather than wait for a doctor's appointment.

It began first in Bradford City and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas, but is now up and running across the whole of the district after Bradford Districts CCG joined.

Dr Richard Dawson, the clinical lead for prescribing at Bradford Districts CCG, said: "This is a simple and cost-effective scheme which allows GPs and A&E units to dedicate time to patients with more serious or life-threatening conditions.

"It will also mean that people who have minor ailments can go straight to their pharmacy and get the help and advice they need without making a doctor’s appointment. Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can assist with many minor health problems - they can advise, treat or refer as necessary."

Recent surveys show that 57 million GP appointments, and up to a third of A&E attendances each year are used by people with common ailments or medicine-related problems.

And the latest figures for West Yorkshire show that only 70 per cent of people surveyed were able to get a GP appointment to see or speak to someone, with 12 per cent saying they could not get an appointment at all.

Bradford Districts CCG is funding the Pharmacy First scheme in the district encouraging people to talk to their pharmacist who can give advice and support and dispense medicines, if necessary, without the need for a doctor’s appointment.

Several conditions including, athlete’s foot, blocked nose, cold, cough, earache, fever, hay fever and strains and sprains, are covered by the scheme.

Patients exempt from paying prescription charges can be supplied with any necessary medicine free of charge after a consultation with the pharmacist.

Reports will be sent to their GP practice so advice can be offered if appropriate at the next doctor's appointment.

GPs will also advise people about Pharmacy First if they request appointments for the list of routine conditions the scheme covers.