People turning to pharmacists for medical advice due to GP delays, research shows
Eva Osborne
More people are turning to their local pharmacist for medical advice as they struggle to get a doctor's appointment.
Research by the Irish Pharmacy Union also shows nine in 10 think pharmacists should be allowed to prescribe medication for minor illnesses, such as back pain and migraines.
The survey of 2,000 people found nearly four-in-five are now waiting longer to get an appointment with their GP.
Meanwhile, figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show there are 364 patients on trolleys on Monday morning.
226 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 138 are in wards elsewhere in hospitals.
The hospital with the highest number of patients without a bed is University Hospital Limerick, with 83 people waiting for a bed.
