Almost 325,000 people wasted A&E time seeking help for sore throats and colds last year — costing the NHS an estimated £44 million, analysis reveals. Some 62,000 sought help for nosebleeds, 18,000 for blocked noses, 40,000 for eczema and 1,000 for acne. The National Pharmacy Association found that a total of six million hours of emergency department time in England were taken up by patients with minor ailments that could have been treated at a community pharmacy.
With the average A&E trip costing £137 and lasting for four hours, it was estimated this could be draining a total of £215 million from the health service each year. NPA chief executive Henry Gregg said: “Of course people with serious injuries should go to A&E but it should be a place for emergencies not the first place to go when faced with a minor ailment.
“Our analysis clearly shows a substantial number of visits to A&E could be better managed in a local pharmacy.
“This would be more convenient for patients, who could be treated in minutes on their doorstep and save substantial time and money in one of the busiest parts of our NHS.”
Patients are increasingly being urged to use pharmacies as a first port of call for non-urgent health problems to ease pressure on urgent and emergency care services.
Both Tory and Labour governments have promised to unleash the sector’s full potential by introducing a Pharmacy First approach.
Last year, pharmacies began providing prescriptions for seven common conditions including sore throats, ear aches and shingles, without the need for a GP appointment.
But many patients appear unaware of the initiative. The analysis also found that 196,000 patients went to A&E with urinary tract infections and 18,000 with insect bites, both of which are also among the seven conditions pharmacists can treat.
The NPA said more must be done to “turbocharge” the role of community pharmacy and take pressure off other parts of the NHS.
Previous analysis by the association suggested that an expansion of England’s Pharmacy First service similar to that seen in Scotland could see around 14 million GP appointments saved each year.
Labour is expected to unveil a wide-ranging 10-Year Health Plan for health next week and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he wants to deliver a “transformational shift from hospital to community”.
Mr Gregg said: “The Government has a once in a generation opportunity to use the 10-Year Plan to turbo charge the role of community pharmacies who, properly funded, have a vital part to play in creating a neighbourhood health service.
“Investment in more clinical services in pharmacies will not only help to end the 8am scramble for a GP appointment but also help get patients out of hospitals and into the community.
“Pharmacies still face considerable funding pressures which need resolving and investment in them is key if the Government are to shift care to people’s local communities.”
NHS Providers chief executive Daniel Elkeles said patients “often resort to A&E when they can’t access timely healthcare elsewhere, piling pressure on already overstretched services”.
He added: “Minor ailments can and should be managed through more appropriate services including Pharmacy First, which enables patients to get prescription medications — including antibiotics — for certain common conditions directly from a pharmacist, and NHS 111 online.
“This could lighten the load on emergency departments, whose priority is always to deliver urgent care to the most seriously ill patients.”
