Barclay unveils plan to give pharmacies power to prescribe antibiotics in bid ‘to cut NHS waiting lists’

The secretary of state for health and social care Steve Barclay today made a ministerial statement to the commons unveiling a new plan to give powers to pharmacies to prescribe antibiotics and other prescriptions in a bid to fix the NHS.

Mr Barclay said: “Our plan will enable us to better recover from the pandemic, to cut NHS waiting lists, and to make the most of the opportunities ahead”.

Responding to the statement, shadow secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting said: “What was the Conservatives’ message to the public this morning following their worst defeat since 1997? They are breaking their manifesto commitments to recruit 6000 new GPs. Once again, the Conservatives have overpromised and under-delivered”.