In three parts

There are three parts to the Pharmacy First service:

1. Minor illness consultations with a pharmacist
2. Supply of urgent medicines (and appliances)
3. Clinical pathway consultations.

The minor illness consultations and supply of urgent medicines parts are those from the previously commissioned Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS), which was provided by most pharmacies across the country up until the end of January this year, so it may well be familiar to existing customers who had used it. As was the case for CPCS, these two parts of the service continue to be provided by a pharmacist following a referral from NHS 111, general practices and other authorised healthcare providers, and patients cannot walk in for these. In addition, general practices can only refer for minor illness consultations; they cannot refer patients for supply of urgent medicines (and appliances). These two parts of the service can be delivered face-to-face in the consultation room or remotely by telephone or video consultation. The third part of the Pharmacy First service are the clinical pathway consultations. This involves  the pharmacist providing advice and NHS-funded treatment (where clinically appropriate, and within certain age-related restrictions) for the seven common conditions of sinusitis, sore throat, acute otitis media (earache), infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. This part of the service can be provided to patients referred by NHS 111, general practices and others, but it can also be considered for patients who walk into the pharmacy and ask for the service, or those who come for advice on symptoms which are suggestive of one of the above conditions.