Pharmacies play a huge role in our local communities.
They're often the first place we go when we're ill or need advice, and one of the most best things about them is that they're there when we need them. You might have to queue for a few minutes, but if the pharmacy's open you can guarantee you'll be seen that day.
Unfortunately the same can't be said for GPs at the moment, who despite working harder than ever are under huge pressure to keep up with demand. Our aging and growing population is making this harder with every day that goes by.
That's why along with training more GPs, we're launching a Primary Care recovery plan to transform the way our local healthcare works.
That includes expanding the role of community pharmacists - allowing them for the first time ever to prescribe some medicines, along with doing more blood pressure checks, and starting women on oral contraceptives. It's a huge boost for patient choice, as well as for our local GPs - freeing up 15 million appointments across the country.
I popped into local pharmacies in Maidstone and Faversham recently to talk to them about the roll out, and was so pleased to hear how excited they are. Their valuable experience and discretion is going to be put to better use
Pharmacy First is just one of the ways we're improving local primary care services - with investment in GPs, reduced bureaucracy, and plans to end the 8am rush for appointments. Find out about these plans and more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-the-prime-ministers-primary-car…;
