The Guardian view on the government’s primary care plan: a diversionary tactic (14 May 2023)

Summary

This editorial in The Guardian looks at the Government's approach to relieving pressure on GPs, which involves diverting patients to other areas of primary care, including pharmacies. The article highlights potential risks and issues associated with the approach, including the workforce issues currently facing community pharmacy and the comparative lack of standards and regulations for pharmacies. It argues that the Government's approach simply moves the issue to other areas of the healthcare system, rather than dealing with the root cause of the issue facing GP surgeries—retention and recruitment.