When you’re feeling under the weather, your first thought might be booking an appointment with your GP. However, with the introduction of the Pharmacy First service, your local pharmacy is now better equipped than ever to be your first stop for health concerns. From expert advice to direct access to certain prescription medications, community pharmacies are transforming how we approach community wellbeing.
The Role of Pharmacy First
Launched in January 2024, Pharmacy First builds upon the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, enabling community pharmacies to manage seven common conditions through defined clinical pathways.
This includes treating minor ailments like sore throats, earaches, and urinary tract infections without requiring a GP appointment.
The initiative is part of a broader NHS plan to recover access to primary care, aiming to free up GP appointments for patients with more complex needs. Pharmacy First offers a quicker, more convenient route to healthcare, allowing pharmacists to provide appropriate medications or self-care advice directly, avoiding unnecessary delays.
What Can Your Local Pharmacy Do?
Community pharmacies are no longer just places to pick up prescriptions - they’re easily accessible healthcare hubs offering a wide range of services, including:
Managing Minor Illnesses: With Pharmacy First, pharmacists can treat conditions such as impetigo, sinusitis, and shingles, as well as sore throats, earaches, and urinary tract infections. These consultations follow clinical pathways developed with input from GPs, pharmacists, and antimicrobial resistance specialists, ensuring the care you receive is safe, effective, and consistent.
Health and Wellbeing Support: From blood pressure monitoring to advice on healthy eating, exercise, and smoking cessation, your community pharmacist can provide tailored guidance to help you stay well.
Vaccinations: Many pharmacies offer flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, making it easier to stay protected during peak seasons.
Emergency and Repeat Medications: Need urgent medicine or a refill on your prescription while away from home? Pop into your pharmacy for help without the need for a GP referral.
Convenient, High-Quality Care
Your local pharmacy team undergoes five years of training in medicine use and minor illness management, equipping them with the expertise to offer exceptional care. They can also identify red flag symptoms requiring further medical attention, ensuring patient safety is always a priority.
Pharmacies often have private consultation rooms, allowing you to discuss health concerns discreetly. Best of all, many services are available without an appointment, making healthcare accessible at a time that suits you.
Benefits for You (and the NHS)
Pharmacy First helps reduce the strain on GPs and urgent care services by handling minor conditions directly. For patients, this means:
With the Pharmacy First service, your local pharmacy is now a cornerstone of accessible, high-quality healthcare. Whether it’s advice on minor ailments, support with long-term wellness, or access to prescription medications, your pharmacist is here to help.
Visit your pharmacy first and experience the difference in care. It’s quicker, easier, and often the best first step toward feeling better.
