DOCTORS' valuable time is being wasted by patients with minor conditions who should have gone to their chemist for over-the-counter medicines, it was claimed today.
Family doctors and pharmacists have joined forces to launch a campaign aimed at encouraging people with minor ailments to visit their local chemist rather than their GP.
A million leaflets will be distributed in chemists and GPs' surgeries throughout the country to highlight the Head For Your Pharmacy campaign.
The leaflets list a range of conditions from flu and indigestion to minor sports injuries, hay fever, and rheumatic pain that can be treated by chemists.
The campaign has been organised by the Doctor-Patient Partnership (DPP) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
A spokeswoman for the DPP said: ''A lot of people go straight to their GP without properly assessing their condition or thinking that they could go to their pharmacist.
''Quite often the only thing the GP can do is tell them to go and buy some paracetamol or other treatments from the pharmacy. Those people are using up doctors' time and their time when they could get advice and products from their pharmacy.''
Christine Glover, president of the RPS, said: ''Pharmacists are an important health resource for treating, advising and supporting patients. We urge people to talk to their pharmacist, find out exactly what he or she can offer and use them to their full potential. This will also free up the doctor's time to treat those in greater need of their help.''
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