England Expands Pharmacy First to 12 Conditions as NHS Cites 14 Million Consultations
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 10
England Expands Pharmacy First to 12 Conditions as NHS Cites 14 Million Consultations
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 10
Summary
Five new conditions — including migraines, acne, scabies, adult ear infections and badly blocked noses — will be treated at pharmacies in England from autumn without patients seeing a GP first.
NHS England said the expansion is meant to relieve pressure on GP surgeries and A&E after a very hot summer and three of the busiest months on record for emergency departments.
A few hundred chemists will start offering the added treatments first, with a gradual rollout planned to thousands of community NHS pharmacies across England.
Pharmacy First, launched in 2024, has already delivered 14 million consultations, including 2 million for sore throats and 1.7 million for urinary tract infections.
Pharmacy groups welcomed the wider role but said government funding still does not cover the extra workload, while Scotland's comparable scheme already covers 27 conditions.