What Is Pharmacy First & Why Is It Important to You?
Pharmacy First is an NHS funded service that began on the 31st of January 2024 in the UK. It allows pharmacies such as PillSorted to provide healthcare advice, supply prescription-only medicines including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate and treat several common health conditions without the need to visit a GP.
For you, this means if you have symptoms suggestive of the seven conditions covered by Pharmacy First you can save the time and hassle of making an appointment with your GP, by calling a pharmacist first instead. This will give you quicker and more convenient access to safe and quality healthcare. You can think of Pharmacy First an easier way for you to get the help you need.
In this article, you’ll come away with a better understanding of what Pharmacy First is, and you’ll understand why it’s so important to you.
In this post:
- Which conditions does Pharmacy First cover?
- How to book a remote consultation
- Why is Pharmacy First important to you?
- Dos & Don’ts
- Main takeaways
Which conditions does Pharmacy First cover?
Today, the Pharmacy First service covers these 7 common conditions:
- Sinusitis (ages 12+)
- Sore throat (ages 5+)
- Ear infections in children (acute otitis media) (ages 1-17)
- Infected insect bite (ages 1+)
- Impetigo (ages 1+)
- Shingles (ages 5+)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women (ages 16-64)
In the future, Pharmacy First may include additional conditions. Once fully scaled, the service could relieve 10 million appointments a year from GPs.
How to book a consultation with your pharmacist
For most conditions, you can conveniently consult with an online pharmacist remotely. However, in the case of ear infections in children, a physical examination using an otoscope is necessary, requiring an in-person visit to a pharmacy. Since PillSorted operates as a fully online pharmacy, we’ll refer you to another pharmacy for this specific case.
To schedule a remote consultation, simply contact your pharmacist directly (PillSorted can be reached at 03334 050380) or schedule an appointment online. Additionally, your GP may also direct you to a pharmacist if they have limited availability for appointments.
During your consultation, the pharmacist will provide advice and treatment or refer you to another healthcare professional if necessary. This could be if your symptoms don’t align with the seven common conditions or if you fall outside the applicable age range. Following the consultation, your pharmacist will update your GP health record for continuity of care.
Why is Pharmacy First important to you?
There are many benefits to this new service. They include:
- Convenient access to expert advice regarding your symptoms over the phone.
- Immediate or quick advice and prescriptions, bypassing the wait for a GP appointment.
- More availability for appointments with your GP when you need them, as their patient load is alleviated from common conditions.
- Additional guidance from your pharmacist on existing medications, proper disposal of old medicines, and assistance in initiating new medications.
Dos & Don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Contact your pharmacist first if you suspect you have symptoms of any of the 7 approved conditions: earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, and UTIs. | Don’t make an appointment with your GP for the 7 common conditions unless your symptoms are persistent or severe. But yes, you can still visit your GP simply if you prefer to. |
| Book an appointment online from the convenience of your own home. Call your pharmacist. Or for earache, walk in. | Don’t need to visit pharmacy unless you are bringing a child with an ear infection |
| Receive your medicine right to your door for free. | Don’t worry about extra charges, Pharmacy First is a free service. The appointment and advice from your pharmacist are free. Delivery of your medications is also free with any NHS prescription. |
Main takeaways
- Pharmacy First, an NHS funded service, launched in the UK on January 31st, 2024, allowing pharmacies like PillSorted to offer healthcare advice, dispense prescription medicines, and treat seven common conditions without the need for a GP visit.
- With Pharmacy First, pharmacists take on a more significant role in healthcare.
- Individuals experiencing symptoms of the seven covered conditions can benefit from expedited and convenient access to healthcare services.
References
UK Department of Health and Social Care (2024). Pharmacy First: what you need to know
NHS England (2024). Pharmacy First
GOV.UK (2023). Pharmacy First contractual framework: 2023 to 2025
PillSorted
PillSorted is a full service pharmacy that delivers trusted pharmacy products, over-the counter medications, and the prescriptions your doctor recommends, directly to your door. Your PillSorted pharmacist is happy to answer your questions about weight loss and potential treatment options at 0333 4050380 or help@pillsorted.com.
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