There was exciting news this morning with national news networks running a story that pharmacies should be used more by the NHS and public to relieve pressure on other areas of the NHS like GP's and A&E departments. It has been suggested that pharmacies could provide NHS services such as flu vaccinations and blood pressure checks. Many pharmacies, including ours, already provide a private service for flu vaccinations and drop in BP checks so could easily extend this for NHS patients to free up surgery appointments. This morning in The Times, 23 health organisations, including the Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Nursing and the College of Emergency Medicine have written urging patients to seek advice from their pharmacy before attending their GP or A&E, suggesting that one in seven GP appointments and one in twelve A&E visits could be treated in the pharmacy. This reaffirms the latent potential that pharmacies have to help the NHS, with many members of the public unaware that they have experienced healthcare professionals close by with easy access.