PATIENTS have died after pharmacists took over some GP work to ease waits for appointments, a union has claimed.
The NHS announced in January that it plans to recruit 20,000 extra staff to work in surgeries, such as pharmacists, physios and paramedics.
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But the Pharmacists’ Defence Association said patients have already died or been seriously injured after relying on its members for help.
Some were given inappropriate drugs or poor advice, it is claimed.
The PDA says some cases have been linked to an “ill-founded” assumption of competence.
It stresses members must not assume a GP practice is the same as a chemist.
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NHS England says on-site pharmacists allow GPs to focus on diagnosing and treating patients with complex conditions.
But the PDA warns members: “If you are about to prescribe a medicine for the first time significant levels of caution should be used.”
PM Boris Johnson vowed to boost GP numbers by 6,000 and offer 50million more appointments.
