Pharmacists in the UK will soon be able to treat patients for conditions including migraines, acne, scabies, certain ear infections, and allergic rhinitis under an expanded NHS 'pharmacy first' scheme. This phased rollout, beginning this autumn, aims to provide more accessible healthcare for common illnesses, reducing the need for GP appointments.
The 'pharmacy first' program enables individuals to seek care and treatment for specific ailments from participating pharmacies without prior consultation with a general practitioner. Currently, the service allows pharmacists to treat conditions such as impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, one type of ear infection, sore throat, and urinary tract infections.
NHS England anticipates that the expanded scheme could lead to between two and three million consultations for the newly added conditions. Dr. Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, highlighted the convenience and accessibility of community pharmacies, stating, "As the NHS steps up winter preparations, we want to make sure that patients can get as much support as possible in their communities, so they do not have to be admitted to hospital unnecessarily." She added that offering treatment for these new conditions at pharmacies "will free up [GPs] for people who need them most in the colder months."
Since its launch in February 2024, the pharmacy first service has facilitated 14 million consultations, including approximately 2 million for acute sore throats and over 1.7 million for urinary tract infections. The accessibility of community pharmacies is significant, with around four in five people in England living within a 20-minute walk of one.
Representatives from pharmacy organizations have welcomed the expansion. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, described the announcement as "a really significant announcement" and noted the potential for patients to be treated "on their doorstep." He urged the government to further enhance the role of pharmacies, suggesting the rollout of more prescribing services and drawing comparisons to Scotland, where patients can be treated for 27 conditions at their local pharmacy.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the Company Chemists' Association, stated that the expansion is an "important step towards making better use of pharmacists' clinical expertise and giving patients greater access to more convenient NHS care."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham commented on the initiative, saying, "People are fed up with the scramble for routine appointments. They want help when they need it, close to home." He emphasized that the changes mean "no more taking time off work or waiting hours to get seen," and that treating people closer to home will help "easing pressure on GPs and A&E, and giving people back precious time."