By Thorrun Govind

It was deeply disappointing to hear reports that leaders within the British Medical Association have encouraged GPs to “overwhelm A&E” instead of referring patients to Pharmacy First.

This is not strategy; it’s sabotage. It doesn’t just create professional tension it undermines patients trust and damages the NHS. Healthcare shouldn’t be a battlefield where patients are collateral.

Pharmacy First was launched to make life easier for patients and to support the wider NHS: enabling people to get treatment for common conditions directly from their pharmacist, without waiting weeks for a GP appointment. It’s practical, and evidence-based.

Patients are already responding........

© LBC