Dear LPG, 

I am getting quite proud of my electronic achievements as I have recently learned how to order my repeat prescriptions on line.    This means that all I have to do is make an appearance a couple of days later and collect, and the fact that some pharmacies now stay open until 9 O’clock in the evening makes the process even more convenient, because I have a two hour window where I can park right outside making collection a very quick process.

The other evening I left it quite late for my visit and there was no one else waiting which allowed me to have a bit of a chat with the chemist.  Our subject of conversation focussed on just how long it takes to get an appointment with your GP these days, but then I noticed something that has always been there really.  

I have never really taken note that there is a consulting room there and he told me that every pharmacy now has one so any patient that wants to ask advice privately can.  We are always being told to only see the GP or go to A & E if we are experiencing an emergency but I pointed out that, while some things are obviously serious, there are many accidents and illnesses that are border-line in the estimation of a person without medical experience which is why we depend on doctors.

We are told not to ignore symptoms because catching things early minimises the consequences of an illness but we are also told how dangerous a small cut can be if it becomes infected. 

The advice that I was given by the pharmacist that I was talking to was reassuring.  If you experience a medical accident or become unwell, and you really don’t want to wait for three or four days to discuss it with your GP or spend a similar amount of hours waiting in A & E, a trip to your pharmacy will at least result in your knowing if you really need to and what is best to do. 

Even if the pharmacy you visit is in boots or any other such shop there has to be a consulting room where you can speak about problems privately.

This is something I have just learned and I hope that sharing the information will help some of our readers.

OC, Catford

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