Pharmacies flip the script

Rollout of ability to prescribe certain medications

- BY ANITA McSORLEY

A MAJOR healthcare shake up could change how thousands of people access prescriptions, as pharmacists are set to take on a task usually handled by GPs.

Under a new Common Conditions Service (CCS) being rolled out nationwide, community pharmacists will now be able to assess patients and prescribe certain prescription-only medicines for a range of common conditions without the need for a GP appointment.

The service is designed to give patients faster access to treatment while easing pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals.

Pharmacies across Ireland are expected to begin offering the service in the coming weeks, with the Irish Pharmacy Union confirming that 93% of community pharmacies have already opted in.

IPU's head of professional services, Susan O'Dwyer, said: "The Common Conditions Service is a significant milestone in pharmacy care in Ireland and one that the IPU has been advocating for over many years.