HEALTH chiefs in east Durham have launched a leaflet to promote their scheme for pharmacists to treat people with minor illnesses.

The Easington Primary Care Trust, which is responsible for health services, including doctors' surgeries, is hoping that people in the area will visit their chemist rather than booking an appointment with their GP when they are suffering from complaints such as coughs or colds.

The trust hopes that the Care at the Chemist scheme will help to reduce doctors' workload, allowing them to concentrate on patients with more serious problems.

The trust said that people who are entitled to free prescriptions would still be able to get them if they went to a pharmacist rather than a doctor.

The leaflet, which is available from chemists shops throughout the district, contains details of the scheme.