The NHS has launched a new initiative that will allow patients to receive treatment for seven common conditions from their local high street pharmacy. Known as Pharmacy First, the service will be available in 95% of community pharmacies across Cheshire and Merseyside. Patients will not need a GP appointment or prescription to see a pharmacist who will assess and treat each condition with pharmacy medicines and advice. The chosen conditions are sinusitis, sore throat, earache, impetigo, shingles, uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women and infected insect bites.
Patients can access the Pharmacy First service through their GP practices, NHS 111 and NHS Walk-in Centres/Urgent Treatment Centres, as well as by contacting pharmacies directly. The Pharmacy First initiative is part of the government’s plan to bring improvements to the way healthcare is delivered, allowing millions of patients to access healthcare and advice easily. Pharmacy First will also supplement patient services already available in pharmacies, including blood pressure testing and oral contraceptives.
Chief Pharmacist for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Susanne Lynch, believes that the vast majority of pharmacies in the area have participated in the Pharmacy First initiative, which will considerably improve services in the area. She said: “Community pharmacies are already delivering more than 10,000 patient interventions in a high-street pharmacy setting each month in Cheshire and Merseyside, and this service will significantly expand that offer.” Pharmacies across the country are working to incorporate the new service into their daily workload, and according to Lynch, pharmacy teams are eager to take on the additional service.
The Pharmacy First service is designed to provide patients with a fast, convenient way to access healthcare and advice without leaving their community. This initiative is part of the government’s commitment to providing improved healthcare access and services across the country, with the aim of helping millions of patients
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