A NEW pilot scheme in Gwynedd is providing a throat test-and-treat service at local pharmacists.­

The scheme running across north Wales will help community pharmacists direct people to the right treatment for a sore throat using a 10-minute test.

Around 35 north Wales pharmacies will offer a new service to help determine whether a sore throat is being caused by a viral or bacterial infection so people can get expert advice and treatment quickly without having to visit their GP.

Users of the pilot service will have a consultation with a pharmacist, who will use a set of structured questions and possibly a swab test, to determine whether they have a viral or bacterial sore throat.

If the test determines it to be a viral infection which antibiotics will not treat, the pharmacist can advise on steps to take to recover.

The pharmacist can also provide antibiotics if the test reveals a bacterial infection that antibiotics can help with.

The scheme, running as a trial in north Wales and in the Cwm Taf Health Board area, will be assessed for its success and potentially rolled out across Wales.

The service is part of the Common Ailments Scheme, which encourages patients to visit their pharmacist instead of their GP if they feel they need NHS advice to manage common ailments, such as sore throat, heartburn, conjunctivitis, thrush and threadworm.

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now