Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First at Egerton Pharmacy

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The Pharmacy First service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service, which has been running since October 2019. This earlier service allowed patients to be referred to a community pharmacy for support with minor illnesses or for urgent repeat medication supplies.

Since 31 January 2024, the expanded Pharmacy First service now allows pharmacies such as Egerton Pharmacy to provide consultations and treatment for a number of common health conditions through established clinical pathways. This means patients can receive advice and, where appropriate, prescription-only medicines directly from a pharmacist without needing to see a GP first.

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Benefits of the Pharmacy First Service

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In May 2023, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care introduced a delivery plan to improve access to primary care. As part of this plan, Pharmacy First allows patients to receive treatment for certain conditions directly from a pharmacy.

At Egerton Pharmacy, this means patients can receive quicker access to care for common conditions such as earache, sore throat, and urinary tract infections, helping treat problems early and prevent them from getting worse.

Traditionally, patients in England have needed to visit their GP to obtain prescription-only medication. Pharmacy First helps reduce unnecessary GP appointments and speeds up access to treatment when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Community pharmacies like Egerton Pharmacy also offer a wide range of healthcare services, including:

• Healthy lifestyle advice

• Support with stopping smoking

• Blood pressure monitoring

• Contraception services

• Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

• Advice on exercise and healthy eating

Surveys show that over 90% of patients who visited a community pharmacy in the past year reported receiving helpful advice, demonstrating the trusted role pharmacies play in local healthcare.

The government and NHS are committed to ensuring patients receive the right treatment at the right time, and the NHS Long Term Plan highlights the important role pharmacists play in improving patient access to care.

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High Quality Care You Can Trust

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When treating these conditions, pharmacists follow nationally approved clinical pathways. These include guidance on self-care, safety advice, and the supply of a limited range of prescription-only medicines where appropriate.

These pathways have been developed with input from:

• Practising GPs

• Pharmacists

• Antimicrobial resistance specialists

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

• The UK Health Security Agency

This ensures that the care provided at Egerton Pharmacy matches national standards and reflects the same level of care patients would receive in general practice.

Egerton Pharmacy provides private consultation rooms, allowing patients to discuss their health concerns confidentially. In most cases, appointments are not required.

Pharmacists undergo five years of professional training in medicines and the management of common illnesses. They are also trained to identify red flag symptoms that may require referral to another healthcare professional.

Following a consultation, Egerton Pharmacy will notify the patient’s GP on the same day or the next working day to ensure the patient’s medical records remain up to date.

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Conditions Treated Through Pharmacy First

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Pharmacists at Egerton Pharmacy can assess and treat the following conditions through the Pharmacy First service:

Condition/Age Range

Acute otitis media (ear infection)1 to 17 years

Impetigo1 year and over

Infected insect bites1 year and over

Shingles18 years and over

Sinusitis12 years and over

Sore throat5 years and over

Uncomplicated urinary tract infectionsWomen aged 16–64

Patients can access these services in several ways. They may be referred by their GP surgery, NHS 111, or urgent care services. Alternatively, for these seven conditions, patients can simply visit or contact Egerton Pharmacy directly without needing a referral.