AS A retired doctor, I have experience of the valuable but often unsung work done by our community pharmacists.
Throughout Wales, pharmacies provide places where people can get advice on their health issues. Their value was obvious during the Covid pandemic.
But this resource is one that is underused. Welsh Conservatives have now launched a campaign to publicise and enhance the role of community pharmacists at a time when our hospitals and surgeries are facing huge increases in those seeking treatment..
Going to your pharmacy may be the most sensible first step for many. If it is not suitable, pharmacists will quickly re-direct patients to their GP or to the hospital.
It is estimated that 11,000 consultations take place every day at pharmacies across Wales and that 86 per cent are dealt with there and then. This saves 35,000 surgery consultations a week and a further 2,000 hospital visits.
I want Welsh Government to reduce the bureaucracy around access to medical records and to speed up the introduction of e-prescriptions. Let’s also ensure that there is more training available for pharmacy staff to give them the skills they need.