The Department of Health has approved plans which would see community pharmacists taking a front-line approach to vascular screening, it has been reported.

According to medical news website Pulse, negotiations between chief pharmacists and the government department have resulted in a template being produced for primary care trusts which would bypass GPs for all but the highest-risk patients.

However, GPs have called the proposals "madness", the news provider states.

The vascular screening programme began in April and all PCTs have to show some evidence of their commitment to the initiative by the end of the year.

Dr Peter Holden, who has been a key player in the negotiations, said: "This is madness. I believe many of our graduate nurses are qualified to do this sort of thing, especially as there is a doctor around on tap, but I don't believe pharmacists are. They have totally different training."

Meanwhile, pharmacy chain boots recently started offering Viagra over the counter to its customers.