The PFS specification, ‘Community Pharmacy advanced service specification: NHS Pharmacy First Service’ (pdf via https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/community-pharmacy-advanced-service-specification-nhs-pharmacy-first-service/), covers the three aspects of the urgent repeat supply, minor illness referrals and the new clinical pathways.⁴

Patients can be referred to the PFS by NHS 111, an integrated urgent care clinical assessment service (IUC CAS), 999 services or other urgent and emergency care provider (such as UTC, ED, UCC). General practices can refer patients for low acuity minor illness conditions and the seven clinical pathways, but cannot make a referral for urgent repeat medicine supply. Patients can also be identified by the pharmacist as potentially suitable for a clinical pathway consultation.^4,5

Appendix A of the PFS specification has a flow chart covering the possible patient journeys whether by referral or walk-in. There are links between the clinical pathways route and the minor illnesses referrals route giving options if the gateway criteria are met or not.⁵