High Street Pharmacists Treat Thousands More People for Minor Illnesses

MORE than 100,000 patients were seen by their high street pharmacist in just 1 month according to new NHS figures, helping people get the quick care they need as well as easing pressure on GP teams facing record demand.

In June, 118,123 people with minor illnesses such as a sore throat or constipation, or those in need of medicine urgently, received a same day consultation with their local Pharmacist after calling NHS 111 or their GP practice; an increase of 83% on the number in the same month in 2021. (64,512)

The data comes alongside expanded roles for Community Pharmacies ahead of winter, announced at the NHS England board meeting.

From this week, NHS 111 online can directly refer people to their high street pharmacist for a same day consultation, rather than patients needing to call the phone line. And from tomorrow, people will be able to register or change their GP practice online, as part of a pilot being rolled out to hundreds of practices.

People can search online on the NHS.UK website for their nearest GP and register within minutes under the new pilot of 70 practices, with plans in place to scale the service up to 600 practices in the coming months.

GP teams are seeing and treating more people than ever before with 35 million more people seen in general practice a year compared to pre Pandemic levels. Face to face appointments are also at their highest level since before the Pandemic with around 2 thirds of appointments carried out in person at GP practices in August.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said:- "Our local pharmacies ensure hundreds of thousands of people every week get the support and medication they need and today's figures show that in just 1 month, over 100,000 patients have also had consultations with their local pharmacist for minor illnesses; this means patients are getting the care they need quickly but also in a convenient way that can fit in with their busy lives. We are committed to making access to NHS services as easy as possible for our patients; from this week, people can be referred for a consultation with their local pharmacy through the touch of a button through NHS 111 online and from tomorrow, a new pilot will mean people can register for a local GP practice online within minutes. It is likely that we will face a busy and challenging winter and while we have already announced plans to boost capacity across our services, I am delighted that hardworking pharmacy teams are playing an even greater role. It is vital that the public continue to use the NHS as they normally would if they are unwell so people should continue to use NHS 111 and as ever, if it is life threatening, call 999."

From November, anyone can see their GP records on the NHS App including new blood test results, without the need to contact their surgery.

The general practice workforce has increased by 19,000 since 2019; ahead of the Government target of recruiting 26,000 staff by 2024, including building multi professional teams who offer patients a wide range of care..

North Ambulance Service faces a strike vote

OUR Ambulance Service is understaffed and over worked, their low pay barely covers the essentials, says GMB Union North Ambulance Service faces a strike vote as GMB Union launches a formal industrial action ballot. Almost 2,000 NWAS Paramedics and Ambulance workers will be balloted; dates of vote will be announced in the coming days. The move comes following a consultative ballot which saw more than 95% of GMB NWAS members vote in favour of a walk out. Paramedics and Ambulance workers are angry over the Government's imposed 4% pay award, which leaves them facing yet another massive real terms pay cut. GMB has also announced a formal strike ballot among thousands of workers at members at Yorkshire, North East, West Midlands and East Midlands Ambulance Services.

Mike Buoey, GMB Organiser, said:- "Ambulance workers are on the frontline saving lives. They shouldn't have to come home to worries about making ends meet. The cost of living is rising; and even more steeply due to the Conservative Government's economic mismanagement. Our ambulance service is understaffed and over worked. Their low pay barely covers the essentials. It just isn't good enough."

TUC - workers in Liverpool are set to lose £1,100 in real wages this year

PAY packets in Liverpool are set to be worth more than £1,100 a year less this year; in real terms, that is once inflation has been taken into consideration, than in 2021, according to new TUC analysis.

The analysis of official data shows that average real wages will fall by around £1,102 compared to 2021.

The stark findings are published as the TUC brings together union leaders and workers at Quaker Meeting House on Thursday, ahead of the union body's National Day of Action to demand better for working people; and a Parliamentary Lobby, on 2 November 2022.

The analysis shows the median salary in Liverpool in 2021 was £25,005. TUC analysis, based on Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, shows the value of wages in Liverpool will fall by around £1,102 as soaring inflation outstrips the increase in wages.

The TUC says years of stagnating pay have left workers:- "badly exposed" to Britain's cost of living crisis.

The union body says the Government must take urgent action to raise wages and protect families from spiralling household costs.

The TUC says ministers must do far more to give families long term financial security...

The TUC says ministers must:-

► Raise wages and improve workers' rights by introducing a £15 minimum wage as soon as possible.

► Giving all public sector workers a real pay rise.

► Banning zero hours contracts and fire and rehire.

► Bringing forward inflation proof raises to Universal Credit and pensions to October.

► Introducing new bargaining rights for whole industries and protecting the right to strike...

► Raising women's incomes and stopping workplace racism...

Reduce household costs by:-

► Cutting energy bills, nationalising energy retail and setting up a new public energy champion.

► Rolling out a rapid programme of home insulation.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:- "Nobody who works for a living should be losing sleep over how they will pay their bills this winter. But soaring costs mean pay packets in Liverpool have taken a rapid fall; in real terms; in just 12 months. Everything is going up but wages. Years of pay stagnation have left workers badly exposed to Britain's cost of living crisis. The prime minister and chancellor may have u-turned on their decision to hand out tax cuts to millionaires, but they're still letting bankers' bonuses rip and cutting taxes for big business, while ignoring the crisis facing families. Things can't go on like this. The Government must do far more to get pay rising, and to protect workers from skyrocketing bills. We're coming together in an autumn of action to demand better for all workers."

TUC North West Regional Secretary Jay McKenna added:- "Families are under intolerable financial pressure with costs spiralling out of control. Liverpool is a great City with great people, but workers here are facing the biggest fall in living standards in generations. We're bringing unions, local workers, and community activists together to say all workers deserve better. The Government must do more to help working people have a decent standard of living; starting with getting wages rising. Now is the time for workers to come together."

Many small businesses could easily go under if Government pushes up the minimum wage to £15 an hour. Already many are holding on for life. In 2021 the number of private sector business population has decreased by 6.5% compared with 2020, and 99.2% of the total business population was small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees) in 2021 according to UK Government data. Already the economy is unstable, but loosing more small businesses would undermine many local economies and also cripple our economic recovery. As most Unions do not have their main membership within small and medium-sized enterprises, many SME owners are now very worried, as it might sound good for employees, but in reality it would be an extremely bad move in the long run.

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