PATIENTS with sore throats or earache in a borough will be encouraged to attend a same-day appointment with a pharmacist rather than see their GP.

Those phoning or attending their surgery in Blackburn with Darwen with a minor illness will be offered a booked appointment with a community pharmacist at their pharmacy.

The national pilot scheme – called the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service – launched on August 23 and runs to the end of March next year.

Commissioners said the scheme would allow patients to see a health professional more quickly.

They also said it would help free up more GP time for urgent patients needs and help to reduce non-emergency A&E visits.

Dr Penny Morris, medical director at Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “I know from the patients that come to my surgery that not everyone needs to see a doctor and it is sensible to refer people to the clinician who has the skills to assess and treat them as quickly as possible."