The Pharmacy First service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service which has run since October 2019. The consultation service enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for a minor illness or an urgent medicine supply.
The new Pharmacy First service, launched 31 January 2024, adds to the existing consultation service and enables community pharmacies to complete episodes of care for 7 common conditions following defined clinical pathways.
Accessing Pharmacy First services
The following table shows the 7 conditions pharmacists can manage across various age ranges.
| Clinical pathway | Age range |
| 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 |
Patients will be able to access the 7 clinical pathways element via referrals from referring organisations including general practice, 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.
What happens next?
If you are being referred to your local pharmacy for other minor ailments *not one of the common conditions shown above. We will send your details and information about your condition to the pharmacy you have chosen.
You should call the pharmacy a few hours after you have been referred (if they haven’t already contacted you) to discuss next steps advising you were referred from your practice.
You will then have a consultation and be assessed by the pharmacist in a private consultation room.
How will the pharmacist help?
Pharmacists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who have trained for at least five years.
If the pharmacist reviews your symptoms and thinks you need to see another healthcare professional (eg GP, dentist, optician), they will help to arrange this.
The pharmacist can provide advice and reassurance on how to manage your condition, as many minor illnesses get better on their own. If the pharmacist thinks you need treatment to help with your symptoms, they may recommend an over-the-counter medicine.
If you are seeing them because you have run out of your usual medicine, they can help arrange a new supply.
The pharmacist will record the outcome of your consultation and send it to your GP to ensure your GP record is updated, including if any medicines are supplied.
Which pharmacy can I go to?
You can choose which pharmacy you go to, as long as it’s taking part in the scheme.
How will we use your information?
We will only use your personal information to help manage your care safely.
All of your personal information will be held securely by the NHS and will not be shared with third parties.