Are pharmacists sufficiently trained?

Whitewave It might very well have been infected, but your own immune system beat it.

However, I do think there's a real danger that antibiotics will be over-prescribed. GPs already overprescribe them because they don't/can't wait for the results of swabs before prescribing the appropriate antibiotic.

It depends.

Not all pharmacists are trained to Masters degree level.

Some are pharmacy assistants.

Just to clarify, independent prescribing is a post graduate qualification for pharmacists, not part of their initial training, so not all pharmacies can offer the service, because undertaking the qualification is a big commitment.

i wouldn't take a chance with soft tissue infection;
having seen what can happen, in worst case scenario, NF, in someone.
no criticism for the pharmacist at all.

I wouldn’t worry too much. Pharmacists will have to be trained and certified as independent prescribers to be able prescribe antibiotics, and will only be able to prescribe within the remit of a patient group directive. It’s very tightly managed, we’ve been doing it in Wales since April 2022.

It isn’t a question of not trusting the pharmacist - you are reading something that is not there.

It is a question of whether the pharmacist has had sufficient training. I would say no by my experience. And no one should prescribe antibiotics to cover themselves! That is plain ridiculous.

Actually, pharmacists train for 6 years, so I’m pretty certain that they are sufficiently trained. However, like GP’s, they are not specialists in a particular area in the way that a Consultant will be (though I imagine they will specialise in a particular area during their training, but as I’m not medically trained at all, I don’t know). However, they will have to keep up to date with new developments, just as any medical practitioner will have to.

Yes I did trust the pharmacist, and still would if I thought (now )that they had sufficient training.

The point being that she immediately said after looking at it that it was infected, that I needed an oral antibiotic - she named the medicine- that she would prescribe it if she could - not to leave it as it looked nasty- in fact she mailed my surgery at home recommending the antibiotic and said if I phoned my surgery the doctor would probably E-mail the prescription to the pharmacy.

My doctor refused without seeing my foot, and recommended the minor injuries clinic.

I would imagine he was covering himself. We live in a litigious society.
I would trust a pharmacist.

Erm an infection probably would need pathology for specific confirmation.
I would certainly trust a pharmacist and indeed consult when unsure.