'Give pharmacies power to refer patients to hospital'

Chemists should treat long-term conditions, say experts

- Storm Newton

PHARMACIES should be able to diagnose and treat a wider range of conditions to ease pressure on GPS, health thinktanks have suggested.

However, there are "significant" barriers to them offering more care, including a lack of investment.

Pharmacies in England can treat shingles, earache, sore throat, impetigo, infected insect bites, sinusitis and uncomplicated UTIs in women.

A report by The King's Fund and Nuffield Trust has recommended services should be expanded to include chickenpox.