NHS Pharmacy First: Seven conditions that your local chemist can now treat
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists in England can carryout consultations and issue antibiotics when appropriate.
The aim is to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP appointments.
People with seven common ailments such as sore throat and earache can go into a chemist to be assessed, rather than making an appointment with their GP.
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists in England can carryout consultations and issue antibiotics when appropriate.
The aim is to make it easier for people to get the help they need and free up millions of GP appointments.
Your local pharmacist will be able to prescribe you medicines for:
- Sore throat
- Earache
- Sinusitis
- Impetigo
- Shingles
- Infected insect bites
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women
Patients can access the new service by walking straight into a chemist. They can also be referred by NHS 111, urgent treatment centres, emergency departments or their GP. Those who are not registered with a GP can still access the service.
If one of the seven conditions is diagnosed, pharmacists can give medicines to patients rather than sending them back to their GP. Patients who need more specialist or follow-up care will be referred onwards.
You can also get emergency contraception and blood pressure check sat most pharmacies in England. Some offer advice on how to stop smoking, how to lose weight as well as screening and treatment for chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted infection.
What happens at a consultation?
The pharmacist will ask about symptoms and possibly about any previous medical issues. They may ask for consent to check the patient's health record if they can access it.
For some conditions, the pharmacist may perform an examination - for example of a patient's ear.
This allows them to recommend the best course of action for each patient, which could include a treatment bought over the counter such as a cream or ointment, a restricted set of prescription-only medicines or advice that the issue will go away on its own.
The consultation will be noted and shared with GPs to add to the patient's record.
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Although the scheme is available for all local pharmacists, please check with them directly whether it is a service that they provide. If you have any questions or unsure if your problem can be seen by your local pharmacist, please contact your surgery and we can refer you to a community pharmacist or GP if necessary.