The Choose Pharmacy Common Ailments Service in Wales has moved closer to national roll out, following a positive evaluation last month. The service has been piloted in two areas – Cynon Valley and Gwynedd – since October 2013, and allows customers to receive free NHS consultations and treatments for a range of selflimiting conditions.

The evaluation, which was commissioned by the Welsh Government, concluded that Choose Pharmacy presents a good investment for NHS Wales over the next five years. It also highlighted that the service is most effective when GPs and pharmacies work together. Welcoming the evaluation, Russell Goodway, chief executive of Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW), said:

“CPW is eager to support a Wales-wide community pharmacy-based common ailments service because we are convinced that it would make the best use of pharmacy skills and expertise and provide a real value for money service to NHS Wales.”