PHARMACISTS have teamed up with GPs to launch a new initiative to help get rid of head lice.

Instead of visiting their GP or buying treatments over the counter, people living in the Easington area are being encouraged to ask their local pharmacist for advice about head lice.

If individuals take a specimen of the head louse to the pharmacist, they will be given advice on how to treat it and will be given detailed instructions on how to use the hair preparation.

The scheme was launched by County Durham and Darlington Health Authority last month and will run for a year.

If it is a success, it could be extended to the rest of the county.

Training has been given to pharmacists, health visitors, school nurses and practice nurses so they can advise parents appropriately.

Dr Deb Wilson, consultant in communicable disease control, said: "This scheme will mean that families are able to access advice and treatment quickly from local pharmacists without waiting for a GP appointment or prescription from their GP.

"What we want to do is make sure people have better access to advice, use the right treatment and use it properly.

"We do not want people to be partially treated because that gives the opportunity for resistance to develop."