Accessible NHS Pharmacy First Services
The Pharmacy First service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service which has run since October 2019. The consultation service enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for a minor illness or an urgent repeat medicine supply. The new Pharmacy First service, launched 31 January 2024, adds to the existing consultation service and enables community pharmacies to complete episodes of care for 7 common conditions following defined clinical pathways.
The benefits of Pharmacy First
In May 2023, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care announced a Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care. Part of the plan includes enabling patients to get certain prescription medications directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment.
This new service is expected to free up GP appointments for patients who need them most and will give people quicker and more convenient access to safe and high quality healthcare. It includes the supply of appropriate medicines for 7 common conditions including earache, sore throat, and urinary tract infections, aiming to address health issues before they get worse.
Currently, NHS patients in England must visit their GP to access prescription only medication, meaning repeated GP visits and delays in treatment.
Community pharmacies offer a more convenient way to access healthcare that includes support with healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, monitoring your blood pressure, contraception, flu and covid vaccinations.
The public perceptions of community pharmacy survey found that over 90% of patients who sought guidance from a community pharmacy within the past year reported receiving good advice.
The government and NHS England are committed to ensuring patients receive the right treatment at the right time. The NHS Long Term Plan highlights the need to make greater use of community pharmacists’ skills and opportunities to engage patients. This is why we have launched a new Pharmacy First service.
✨ New! NHS Pharmacy First Now Available
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Our NHS Pharmacy First Service provides expert help for minor conditions—no GP visit required. It’s convenient, professional, and designed to ease pressure on the NHS while giving you faster care.
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Accessing Pharmacy First services
Pharmacy First services allow pharmacists to manage and treat certain common conditions without the need for a GP appointment. These services are available to people within specific age ranges depending on the condition. Here's a detailed overview of the conditions and the eligible age groups:
Acute Otitis Media – This ear infection can be treated by pharmacists in children and young people aged 1 to 17 years.
Impetigo – A common skin infection that pharmacists can manage in individuals aged 1 year and over.
Infected Insect Bites – Pharmacists can provide treatment for this condition in people aged 1 year and over.
Shingles – Management of shingles through Pharmacy First is available for adults aged 18 years and over.
Sinusitis – Pharmacists can support patients with sinusitis if they are aged 12 years and over.
Sore Throat – This service is available to people aged 5 years and over who are experiencing sore throat symptoms.
Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) – This service is specifically available for women aged 16 to 64 years.
These Pharmacy First services help reduce pressure on GP practices and provide quicker access to care for eligible individuals.
Providing high quality health and care services
For the 7 common conditions, pharmacists will follow a robust clinical pathway which includes self care and safety-netting advice and, only if appropriate, supplying a restricted set of prescription only medicines without the need to visit a GP.
These clinical pathways have been developed with input from various experts including practising GPs, pharmacists, and antimicrobial resistance specialists as well as representatives from national organisations such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and UK Health Security Agency. This ensures that the steps we take together match the care patients would receive in general practice and follow the latest national guidelines.
Pharmacies have private consultation rooms that can be used for consultations with patients, and pharmacists can see patients for clinical services without always needing an appointment.