Pharmacists in England can now prescribe treatments for minor ailments, including sore throats and earaches, freeing up around 10 million GP appointments annually. The Pharmacy First scheme allows most chemists to issue prescriptions without appointments or referrals. Patients can access the service by walking into a pharmacy or being referred via NHS 111, urgent treatment centres, emergency departments or their GP. Although pharmacy groups have praised the move, there are concerns about funding and recent chemist closures. Community pharmacies in England, according to the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, are “severely underfunded”.
Pharmacists can undertake confidential consultations and determine whether treatment is necessary, including antibiotics, for an initial list of seven minor ailments. Patients requiring more specific or follow-up care are referred on as necessary. The pharmacist will first ask about the patient’s symptoms and medical history before conducting any necessary physical examinations. Consultations will be noted and shared with GPs to add to the patient’s record.
More than 90% of community chemists in England have registered to deliver the service, with each pharmacy receiving £2,000 and £15 per consultation plus £1,000 a month, dependent on them seeing a set minimum of patients. Similar schemes are already offered in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whilst the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has praised the initiative as a “leap forward” in patient care, concerns remain over closures of pharmacies and their funding. NHS England has invested £645m over two years in expanding services offered by community pharmacies.
Nearly half of the pharmacies in England have recently begun prescribing the oral contraceptive pill for patients, and are also increasing the number of blood-pressure checks they offer. The community pharmacy sector has seen a significant fall in the number of chemists in England, according to last year’s BBC News analysis.
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