The biggest pharmacy chain in the UK has reported that it will be offering GP-style appointments to paying customers this winter.
Boots will make face-to-face consultations available for minor ailments – which hopefully will get you seen more quickly.
Out of the 6,600 pharmacists employed in the 2,336 Boots outlets those who are trained to be independent prescribers will be able to diagnose medical conditions and provide prescriptions.
Boots will also be offering pay-as-you-go doctor services online.
The alternative to NHS GPs will not be free like it is at health service surgeries, but it's not as pricey as a private medical appointment.
So far, the pricing structure for the new venue has not been announced, but the fee for an appointment with a pharmacist starts from £15 – including the cost of your prescription.
Boots chief executive Seb James compared the cost to dining out on the high street.
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He said: “Rather than wait two weeks to see a GP, people can get immediate diagnosis, treatment and medication for the price of a Nando’s.”
He added that the new privatised service was similar to Boots’ testing role during the pandemic which came after Boris Johnson approached the boss.
Seb said: “I assured him we would not seek to make a profit out of Covid.
"This policy enabled us to move quickly and help the nation. Hopefully, this new venture will continue that trend.”
The announcement came in the same week that NHS data showed fewer face-to-face appointments are happening compared to before the pandemic.
In August, the first month after restrictions were lifted, just 58% of patients saw a doctor in person.
That’s compared to 54% in January and 80% pre-pandemic.
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The fall in numbers could be due to the Covid testing programme, increased vulnerability of the elderly and a 7% fall in GP numbers over the last five years, reports the Mirror.
Sajid Javid , the Health Secretary, has said that over the phone and online consultations will remain a central part of the country's healthcare system post-pandemic.
“There’s a role for remote consultations when it comes to health care," he said at the Conservative Party conference.
“I suspect, in fact I know, from speaking to the clinicians that a lot of that will continue.”
However, remote treatment and consultations led by people who are not doctors could impact the way Brits are diagnosed and treated.
Right now, reports suggest two-thirds of people with “red-flag” symptoms are not being given urgent referrals.
And, one in 25 of those patients whose GPs didn’t spot early signs were diagnosed with cancer a year later.
Do you think this is a service you would use? Tell us in the comments…
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