article_snippet: Experts said the move would cut the time patients have to wait for appointments, while also addressing the chronic shortage of GPs at a time when there is an oversupply of pharmacists.
article_snippet: Maureen Baker, chairwoman of the RCGP said: 'Waiting times for a GP appointment are now a national talking point - and a national cause for concern, not least amongst GPs themselves. '
article_snippet: But, even if we were to get an urgent influx of extra funding and more GPs, we could not turn around the situation overnight due to the length of time it takes to train a GP. '
article_snippet: GP surgeries are predicted to make 370 million patient consultations this year - 70 million more than five years ago.
article_snippet: The RCGP said according to their research, there will be 67 million occasions when patients will have to wait a week or longer to see a GP or practice nurse this year.
article_snippet: As such, the RCGP, which is being backed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, has argued the Royal Pharmaceutical Society are ideally placed to treat patients directly within GP practices.
article_snippet: The RCGP is calling for general practice funding to be increased to 11 per cent of the NHS budget by 2017 -
article_snippet: Furthermore, the College is calling for 8,000 more GPs in England by the end of the next Parliament.
article_snippet: David Branford, chairman of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society English board, said: 'General practice is the foundation of the NHS but the foundation of the NHS needs proper resourcing and support.
article_snippet: Experts said the move would cut the times patients have to wait for appointments, while also addressing the chronic shortage of GPs at a time when there is an oversupply of pharmacists . '
article_snippet: We must be more strategic and change the services on offer to make best use of the NHS workforce. '
article_snippet: This proposal has the potential to improve the skills mix in local GP services and raise the number of healthcare professionals on hand to provide help to patients. '
article_snippet: This will be a welcome step forward,given that GP practices are currently under unprecedented strain from rising patient demand and falling resources. '
article_snippet: A further limiting factor at present is that many GP practices are struggling because many GP practices buildings are inadequate or don't have space to expand staffing.'
highlights_snippet: Experts say the move would cut patient waiting times for appointments .