NHS Pharmacy First Service

The Pharmacy First service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service. The consultation service enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for a minor illness or an urgent repeat medicine supply. Community pharmacies offer a more convenient way to access healthcare that includes support with healthy eating, exercise, stopping smoking, monitoring your blood pressure, contraception, flu and covid vaccinations.

The services gives people quicker and more convenient access to safe and high quality healthcare. It includes the supply of appropriate medicines for 7 common conditions including earache, sore throat, and urinary tract infections, aiming to address health issues before they get worse.

The following shows the 7 conditions pharmacists can manage across various age ranges.

• Acute otitis media*: 1 to 17 years
• Impetigo: 1 year and over
• Infected insect bites: 1 year and over
• Shingles: 18 years and over
• Sinusitis: 12 years and over
• Sore throat: 5 years and over
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections: Women 16-64 years

* Distance selling pharmacies will not complete consultations for acute otitis media.

Patients will be able to access the 7 clinical pathways element via referrals from referring organisations including general practice(GP), urgent and emergency care settings, and NHS 111 (online and via telephone). In addition, for the 7 common conditions clinical pathway consultations only, patients can access the service by attending or contacting the pharmacy directly without the need for referral.