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Pharmacy First

The Pharmacy First scheme provides professional health care advice, treatments, and medicines for common illnesses from your local pharmacy, without the need for an appointment.

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NPA: Government must ‘turbo-charge’ Pharmacy First in NHS 10-year plan

An analysis by the National Pharmacy Association found having a service similar to the one in Scotland could save 14 million GP appointments each year.

06 Jun 2025 , 1 Min Article

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CCA: Pharmacies may stop Pharmacy First because of ‘bundling’ requirement

Company Chemists' Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said pharmacies should be allowed to provide home blood pressure monitoring as well as ABPM.

02 Jun 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Over 5 million patients have used Pharmacy First since launch

Sore throat and UTI consultations perform strongly as NHS announces milestone.

29 May 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First consultation in Scotland helped diagnose leukaemia in patient

Independent prescriber Victoria Lang noticed the patient was unwell and became more concerned after going through their medical history.

14 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Just over half of £645m Pharmacy First funding spent and NMS fee split

Some £204 million was spent in the first year and £145 million in the second year, taking the total to £349 million and leaving £296 million.

08 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Antibiotic supply rate far higher for Pharmacy First vs Welsh scheme

Pharmacy First sore throat consultations more than twice as likely to lead to a supply.

13 Mar 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Better communication needed to improve Pharmacy First awareness in Derbyshire

Healthwatch Derbyshire said improved engagement with faith groups was needed and information should be supplied in different languages.

24 Feb 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Labour peer: Government is ‘acting on’ GPs unwilling to refer to Pharmacy First

Baroness Merron said NHS England is working closely with integrated care boards, GPs and community pharmacy to improve referrals.

05 Feb 2025 , 1 Min Article

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CCA: Pharmacy First could free up 40m GP appointments

Trade body says prescribing-led service would provide launchpad for further expansion.

03 Feb 2025 , 3 Min Article

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UTIs make up biggest number of Pharmacy First consultations at Lincolnshire Co-op

Lincolnshire Co-op said the biggest number of consultations was in December which saw a 13 per cent increase on November.

30 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Numark chair: Swinney’s promise to expand Pharmacy First is ‘pivotal moment’

Harry McQuillan, however, cautioned any expansion must be underpinned by funding.

28 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Independents reveal struggles with Pharmacy First as service marks one year

Pharmacists told Independent Community Pharmacist their experiences of the service had largely been negative for a variety of reasons.

17 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First consultations up 10pc in week before Christmas

Pharmacy First providing NHS access for patients at times when they are unable to go elsewhere, says CCA.

15 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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CCA: Expand Pharmacy First to build on pharmacists’ antibiotics role

The Company Chemists' Association's report said pharmacists were only supplying antibiotics when appropriate.

12 Dec 2024 , 1 Min Article

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McQuillan criticises Mid Mersey LMC member over pharmacy knowledge remarks

Numark chairman Harry McQuillan criticised GP leaders for voting to end pharmacy blood pressures checks at the LMC conference.

28 Nov 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Communication skills

The last module in our Pharmacy First series looks at how pharmacy teams can communicate with customers about the service, as well as how to manage those who may not understand – or accept – that they are ineligible.

15 Nov 2024 , 10 Min Module

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