Ask Dr Livingstone about coughs and colds and he’ll switch into autodoc mode, advising patients not to bother with OTC remedies. But he can't help it, it’s become a reflex

For every one of the Department of Health's Big Ideas there's a downside, writes Dr Livingstone, and it usually involves GPs mopping up the mess

When chloramphenicol went OTC for conjunctivitis, Dr Livingstone assumed he would see a drop in affected patients. But he's found that access only leads to excess

Dr Livingstone is seduced by the idea of healthy living pharmacies but, he wonders, will they really reduce his workload?

A pill that beams information to a tablet device to improve compliance? It sounds like a expensive and cumbersome solution to a problem that isn’t really a problem, writes Dr Livingstone

A diabetic patient's diary is already awash with medical appointments, writes Dr Livingstone, so what purpose will an advanced MUR serve?

We can't all be superheroes in the workplace, writes Dr Livingstone. Pharmacists are touted as the panacea for a broken NHS, but when are they supposed to find the time?

Yes, GPs shouldn't be prescribing antibiotics as placebos, writes Dr Livingstone, but pharmacists can be just as guilty

Dr Livingstone is all riled up about NMS funding. But not for the reasons you'd expect

The brave new world of the NHS reforms is almost upon us, writes Dr Livingstone, but have the CCG gurus got their priorities right?

So you want to renegotiate the pharmacy contract? Be careful what you wish for, says Dr Livingstone

Pharmacy’s repeat prescribing service may have seemed like a good idea, says Dr Livingstone, but it’s put a spanner in my works

Pharmacists think of themselves as having nine identities, say researchers, but Dr Livingstone is underwhelmed. Try being a GP, he says

Dr Livingstone is struggling to think of any freebies he's received from Big Pharma in the recent past. In fact, where have all the drug reps gone?

I’d love to say the decision to prescribe antibiotics is purely scientific, writes Dr Livingstone. But it isn’t. It’s equal parts evidence, artistry, guesswork and expediency

Life at the coalface doesn’t fit snugly into neat protocols and pathways, writes Dr Livingstone, and the latest suggestion that pharmacists promote early cancer diagnosis has got his blood boiling

The post-Monday morning surgery headache has kicked in and Dr Livingstone is in need of co-codamol. But a member of staff in the local pharmacy has something to say on the matter...

Don't be surprised if your local GP starts popping in for friendly chats and invites you to a commissioning meeting, writes Dr Livingstone. There isn't a hidden agenda, honestly

We’ve got another couple of months before CCGs properly get going, writes Dr Livingstone. But one of them has already managed to get embroiled in a legal battle

Yet again pharmacists have been put forward to take on another aspect of healthcare, writes Dr Livingstone. But quite frankly, I’m getting a bit bored of these nonsense ideas

If you thought that over-eating and drinking at Christmas would boost the sales of antacids - then get ready for a wave of GPs following the latest commissioning guidance

April is creeping up fast, writes Dr Livingstone. But the reality of some CCGs might not be as close as you think

Tis the season to be jolly, writes Dr Livingstone. So let’s put aside our differences and create open lines of communication

It's no surprise diabetes patients are uncomfortable seeking pharmacists' advice, writes Dr Livingstone. Maybe your shopkeeper's hat is putting them off

Suggesting GPs commission a minor ailments scheme run by pharmacists sounds like a good thing, writes Dr Livingstone, but I suspect this approach would come back and bite us on the knee

I'm all for other healthcare professionals taking on more responsibility, writes Dr Livingstone, but making POMs available prescription free is just another example of the lines between us being blurred

Time and time again I’m being told that men don’t seek enough health advice, writes Dr Livingstone. But to be honest, unless it’s serious, I don’t want to hear about it

Pharmacists keep going on about wanting to be seen as healthcare professionals, writes Dr Livingstone. But when you keep selling placebo-based medicine, it’s hard to take you seriously

No, it's not a misprint. Dr Livingstone is suffering an attack of empathy for pharmacists

I’ve already shared my thoughts on 28-day prescriptions, writes Dr Livingstone, but new research has demonstrated yet another reason why this madcap policy isn’t a good idea

The confusion currently surrounding clinical commissioning groups has left us GPs a bit perplexed, writes Dr Livingstone, and C-day is only getting closer

I’ve recently been asked to sign the mission statement in our CCG constitution, writes Dr Livingstone, but If I’m honest, I really don’t fancy it

Guidelines against GPs who are too 'agreeable' are fine by stroppy sods like me, writes Dr Livingstone, but regulators do leave us walking something of an attitudinal tightrope

A parliamentary inquiry wants to know the barriers to progress in pharmacy, writes Dr Livingstone. So fasten your seat belts folks because I’ve got more than a few suggestions

It seems that all these initiatives aiming to improve healthcare are starting to work, writes Dr Livingstone, as all our grumbling is being turned into action

Dr Livingstone A statistic that, to pharmacists, might seem damning of GPs, can also be seen in a completely different light

There’s a common misconception that come April next year GPs will inherit the earth, writes Dr Livingstone. But I hate to inform you that you couldn’t be further from the truth

Nobody likes questionnaires, least of all customers in a hurry, writes Dr Livingstone. So I do have a bit of sympathy for you when it comes to the P category

I understand that pharmacists want to expand their role, writes Dr Livingstone, but you have to remember there is a limit to your capabilities

While on one hand I agree with wider prescribing rights, writes Dr Livingstone, I’ve also got to remember that it’s soon to be coming out of my piggy bank

Hearing the words “ideally placed” never goes down well with GPs, writes Dr Livingstone, but for some strange reason it’s music to pharmacists' ears

I’m all in favour of patients self-caring, writes Dr Livingstone, but that doesn’t mean they should go running to the pharmacist either

The launch of a tailored patient information leaflet for methylphenidate has Dr Livingstone jumping for joy, instead of jumping around in frustration

You’d have thought that keeping up to date with technology would make life easier, writes Dr Livingstone. Instead I’m left suffering from prescribing dysfunction

My last blog caused some what of a stir online, writes Dr Livingstone, but I can assure you I had my reasons

The CQC isn’t happy about toys being removed from GP reception areas and consulting rooms, writes Dr Livingstone. And for once I think I might actually agree with them

The medical treatment of my patients is as integral a part of the process as is the history, examination, investigations, writes Dr Livingstone. And I have no plans of devolving this key step to pharmacists

Much to Dr Livingstone's dismay commissioning is headed straight for him, just without the original mission statement

I’d be happy for plenty more medication to be available OTC, writes Dr Livingstone, but how are we meant to keep on top of things with patients now able access an inhaler a month

Prescribing statins to all over 50s may or may not enhance life quantity. But it’ll certainly enhance my life quality, writes Dr Livingstone