More needs to be done to change people’s behaviour so they visit their local pharmacy first, says the PAGB after the organisation’s latest research to coincide with Self Care Week revealed that 32 per cent of people visit the doctor instead of a pharmacy for seasonal conditions like sore throats.

The research also found that almost 10 million visits were made to the GP for norovirus last year, despite the NHS advising people to stay at home because of the risk to others.

A quarter of people (24 per cent) said they need more education about how to identify and treat common self-treatable conditions and nearly half (49 per cent) said they would be more likely to visit a pharmacy, rather than the GP, if they knew how much time and money it could save them.

John Smith, chief executive of the PAGB said: “Our latest research adds to the weight of evidence that shows people are still misusing NHS services for self-treatable conditions. This really needs to change.”