BOOTS will offer £15 GP-style health appointments in a bid to take pressure off the NHS this winter
BOOTS is to offer £15 GP-style health appointments in a bid to take pressure off the NHS this winter.
The high street giant is branching out to provide face-to-face consultations for minor ailments.
Pharmacists are being given training that allows them to diagnose conditions and even write prescriptions.
It comes after the NHS revealed there were a million fewer in-person GP appointments last month.
Boots chief executive Seb James, right, told The Sun: “Rather than wait two weeks to see a GP, people can get immediate diagnosis, treatment and medication for the price of a Nando’s.”
Appointments start at £15, which includes the prescription costs. As well as face-to-face appointments in-store, Boots is also offering a pay-as-you-go service with doctors online.
There are 2,336 Boots stores across the UK, employing 6,600 registered pharmacists.
Those who train as pharmacist independent prescribers can write prescriptions as well as dispense them.
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In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Mr James also revealed Boris Johnson called him at the start of the pandemic to ask if Boots could help the NHS with testing.
He said: “I assured him we would not seek to make a profit out of Covid.
This policy enabled us to move quickly and help the nation. Hopefully, this new venture will continue that trend.”
Mr James also revealed Boris Johnson called him at the start of the pandemic to ask if Boots could help the NHS with testing[/caption]