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Pharmacists are being put under too much strain, putting patients at risk, say the profession's leaders.

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the number of prescriptions issued, while pharmacists have taken on extra work to ease the pressure on GPs.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) union said the increases in work in England were not being matched by equivalent rises in funding.

But the government said it was working with pharmacists over workload issues.

The number of prescriptions has risen by 60% in the past decade to 800m prescriptions a year.

Pharmacists are also taking on more responsibility by carrying out medicine reviews - 15 minute consultations with patients aimed at assessing whether they are following their treatment regimes and on the right drugs.

Patients in many areas are also being encouraged to seek the advice of pharmacists for minor ailments instead of going to their local GP.

The shift from family doctor to pharmacists is being pushed by ministers because GPs are expected to take on more complex care as part of the drive to move care out of hospitals.

But the PDA told the Chemist and Druggist magazine the move was not being backed by funding.

Pharmacy funding has kept pace with the rises in the overall NHS budget, but the PDA argues that it should have increased more quickly to fund the extra duties.

Audit

The PDA is so worried about the issue that it has launched a stress audit of pharmacists.

Early results show that 78% of those asked said they often or always had to work "intensely".

PDA chief John Murphy said: "We are getting concerned at the amount of work pharmacists are being asked to do.

"We welcome the extra responsibilities but this should be matched by funding. Without it, there is a risk that patient care will suffer."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said pharmacists had a "strong contribution" to make to the NHS and that officials were working with the profession over work pressures.

She said discussions were under way over whether pharmacy staff other than qualified pharmacists could take on more of a role.

This article was sourced from the BBC website  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7563149.stm