Irish patients are increasingly seeking medical advice from pharmacists as prolonged GP appointment delays strain the healthcare system, according to new research from the Irish Pharmacy Union.
The survey of 2,000 people revealed that nearly four-in-five patients are now experiencing longer waits to secure GP appointments, forcing many to seek alternative healthcare solutions. This shift has led to growing support for expanding pharmacists’ prescribing powers, with nine in ten respondents believing pharmacists should be permitted to prescribe medication for minor illnesses including back pain and migraines.
The findings highlight the mounting pressure on Ireland’s primary care system, where patients are adapting to access barriers by utilizing their local pharmacy services as a more accessible first point of contact for medical concerns.
The healthcare strain extends beyond GP services, with hospital overcrowding remaining a persistent challenge. Latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show 364 patients on trolleys across Irish hospitals on Monday morning, including 226 waiting in emergency departments and 138 in wards elsewhere.
University Hospital Limerick recorded the highest number of patients without beds, with 83 people awaiting admission. The trolley figures underscore the system-wide pressures affecting both primary and secondary care services.
The research suggests that expanding pharmacist prescribing rights could offer a practical solution to ease pressure on overwhelmed GP services while providing patients with timely access to treatment for minor conditions. This approach could help address the growing gap between healthcare demand and available appointment slots, potentially reducing both GP waiting times and hospital overcrowding as patients receive appropriate care at the community level.