Think Pharmacy First for common health conditions

News - 6 February 2024

People can now get treatment for seven common health conditions directly from their local pharmacist, without needing a GP appointment.
A pharmacist holding a box of medication in a pharmacy while on the phone with a customer.

The Pharmacy First scheme, which launched on 31 January, aims to make it easier and quicker for patients to access care and treatment on their high street, while easing pressure on GP services.

Under the scheme pharmacists can supply prescription-only medicines to treat seven conditions, where assessment indicates this is appropriate, without patients needing to visit their GP practice. The conditions are:

  • Sinusitis
  • Sore throat
  • Earache
  • Infected insect bite
  • Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection)
  • Shingles
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women

The service is available direct from pharmacies or by referral from a GP, NHS 111 or other health services.

If prescription medicines are not appropriate, pharmacists will offer advice or ‘over the counter’ medicines, or both. Visit this page for more information about local pharmacy services and to find your nearest pharmacy.

Have you visited a pharmacy for help with any of the above conditions? What do you think about the Pharmacy First scheme? Share your feedback with us by clicking the pink 'Talk to us' button below and completing our online feedback.

You might also be interested in

A medical professional wearing blue scrubs, talking to a patient at a table in a hospital. Behind them, a second medical professional is making up a hospital bed.

Have your say: the NHS 10 Year Health Plan

The government wants to hear the views, experiences and ideas of everyone in England as part of 'the biggest ever conversation about the future of the NHS'. Here's how you can get involved.
News
Illustration of a doctor wearing a stethoscope, holding a clipboard with a checklist on it.

Get the most from your learning disability annual health check

This checklist is a tool for people with a learning disability and their carer or supporters to fill in before attending an annual health check. It aims to help you recognise when things aren’t right, take actions to keep healthy, and to speak up and seek help.
Advice and Information