Pharmacists claim cure for A&E ills

Caroline O’Doherty

The 1,400 members of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) say the move would prevent patients clogging up GPs surgeries and A&E departments with unnecessary visits.

They also claim it could help save the Department of Health and Children at least E100 million a year on GP consultations for medical card patients and describe the Government’s repeated failure to take them up on the suggestion as “ludicrous”.