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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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Pharmacies delivered over 230,000 Pharmacy First consultations in Devon last year

There was a 154 per cent increase on 2024 in patients’ use of pharmacies’ free blood pressure checks and contraceptive services.

01 May 2026

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Health minister hints migraine could be added to Pharmacy First in Lords debate

Baroness Merron was asked if Labour will “include and fund” migraine in the scheme.

24 Mar 2026

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Asda looks at where the ISSUES IS for Pharmacy First

Asda Pharmacy launches ISSUES IS awareness campaign to drive uptake of Pharmacy First services.

17 Feb 2026

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‘Review NHSBSA performance’: Minister grilled on ‘withheld’ Pharmacy First payments

Health minister faces intense questioning on Pharmacy First payment challenges

13 Feb 2026

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To test or not to test…is that the question?

There are various reasons behind differences in the supply of antibiotics but point-of-care testing has reduced the rate.

02 Feb 2026

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Kinnock: Over 1,500 pharmacies secured lower Pharmacy First threshold payment in June

Health minister Stephen Kinnock said 1,565 contractors received £500 for completing 20 to 29 consultations in June 2025.

07 Jan 2026

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Letter to the editor 7

Our readers get in touch with Independent Community Pharmacist magazine to get things off their chest.

06 Jan 2026

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BMA will hold ballot to decide whether to proceed with pharmacy-related measures

The British Medical Association will ballot members on measures such as reallocating Pharmacy First funding to general practice.

19 Nov 2025

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Supply of antimicrobial most common outcome for Pharmacy First consultations

ESPAUR report links supply of antimicrobials to Pharmacy First consultations for first time.

18 Nov 2025

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NHS app excludes Pharmacy First, so let’s build our own ‘digital front door’

Pharmacist Baba Akomolafe criticised the government for excluding Pharmacy First from the NHS app.

12 Nov 2025

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Forget about striking doctors Wes – put Pharmacy First

We never found out how and why an anti-Pharmacy First letter written by two British Medical Association members was sent out.

27 Oct 2025

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ABPM bundling requirement for PF monthly payments put on hold

The requirement to provide one ABPM consultation per month as part of the 'bundling' requirements for Pharmacy First fixed monthly payments is put on hold.

30 Sep 2025

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NHSBSA stonewalling us over £1,600 in lost Pharmacy First earnings, says Swindon contractor

'Bureaucracy overruling common sense' says contractor struggling with BSA intransigence

10 Sep 2025

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Reminder: Revised Pharmacy First clinical pathways from October

The updated pathways contain new Gateway Points and will come into effect in October.

02 Sep 2025

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Boots tops a million Pharmacy First consultations

'A significant moment' says the company's services director.

15 Aug 2025

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Pharmacies asked to record sore throat consultations for PQS audit

Audit will focus on antimicrobial stewardship in sore throat consultations.

12 Aug 2025

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