I WAS very encouraged to read the interview with Hoggs' pharmacist, and the excellent letter headed 'GP Concerns' (Guardian, June 17).

We are constantly asked to ease the pressure on doctors' surgeries by calling at our local pharmacy for advice, and it is a poor recognition of this for Firdale Medical Centre to seek to undermine these valuable local resources.

It remains to be seen how many patients sign up for the new scheme, and remain with it, but I can foresee many shortcomings when for example, an entire order is delayed because of one missing item.

Please, let's support our local pharmacies.

David Barker Northwich