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 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 common conditions including earache, sore throat, and urinary tract infections, aiming to address health issues before they get worse.
Community pharmacies offer a more convenient way to access healthcare that includes support with healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, monitoring your blood pressure and contraception.
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.
Every pharmacist trains for 5 years in the use of medicines and managing minor illnesses, so they are well equipped to provide health and wellbeing advice to help people stay well. They are also experienced in spotting warning signs, otherwise known as red flag symptoms, which may warrant a referral to another healthcare provider.
After a consultation with the pharmacist, the pharmacy will send a notification to the patient’s GP.
Further information
- Find a participating pharmacy – healthcare professionals can use the NHS Service Finder to locate pharmacies that are participating in the service.
- Pharmacy First service documents – get the service specification, clinical pathways and patient group directions that support this service.
