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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Financial Management & Funding

Labour ‘expects’ £215m Pharmacy First budget to be spent – but makes no guarantees

Boosting public awareness should help ensure budget is spent, minister claims

10 Jun 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health

NPA: Government must ‘turbo-charge’ Pharmacy First in NHS 10-year plan

An analysis by the National Pharmacy Association found having a service similar to the one in Scotland could save 14 million GP appointments each year.

06 Jun 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Financial Management & Funding

CCA: Pharmacies may stop Pharmacy First because of ‘bundling’ requirement

Company Chemists' Association chief executive Malcolm Harrison said pharmacies should be allowed to provide home blood pressure monitoring as well as ABPM.

02 Jun 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Services

Over 5 million patients have used Pharmacy First since launch

Sore throat and UTI consultations perform strongly as NHS announces milestone.

29 May 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health

CPD module: Pharmacy First - the second year

We look at the resources and support for promoting Pharmacy First uptake in England in its second year.

16 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Module

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People

Pharmacy First consultation in Scotland helped diagnose leukaemia in patient

Independent prescriber Victoria Lang noticed the patient was unwell and became more concerned after going through their medical history.

14 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy team

Letter to the editor 4

More independent pharmacists get in touch with Independent Community Pharmacist with their views.

08 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Contract

Just over half of £645m Pharmacy First funding spent and NMS fee split

Some £204 million was spent in the first year and £145 million in the second year, taking the total to £349 million and leaving £296 million.

08 Apr 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health

Antibiotic supply rate far higher for Pharmacy First vs Welsh scheme

Pharmacy First sore throat consultations more than twice as likely to lead to a supply.

13 Mar 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Financial Management & Funding

Just 12% of £645m Pharmacy First budget was spent in 8 months to December

A fraction of the £645m allocated to Pharmacy First was spent in the first eight months of the financial year.

11 Mar 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health

Better communication needed to improve Pharmacy First awareness in Derbyshire

Healthwatch Derbyshire said improved engagement with faith groups was needed and information should be supplied in different languages.

24 Feb 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Integrated care

Labour peer: Government is ‘acting on’ GPs unwilling to refer to Pharmacy First

Baroness Merron said NHS England is working closely with integrated care boards, GPs and community pharmacy to improve referrals.

05 Feb 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Clinical services

CCA: Pharmacy First could free up 40m GP appointments

Trade body says prescribing-led service would provide launchpad for further expansion.

03 Feb 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Public health

UTIs make up biggest number of Pharmacy First consultations at Lincolnshire Co-op

Lincolnshire Co-op said the biggest number of consultations was in December which saw a 13 per cent increase on November.

30 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Financial Management & Funding

Numark chair: Swinney’s promise to expand Pharmacy First is ‘pivotal moment’

Harry McQuillan, however, cautioned any expansion must be underpinned by funding.

28 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Public health

Independents reveal struggles with Pharmacy First as service marks one year

Pharmacists told Independent Community Pharmacist their experiences of the service had largely been negative for a variety of reasons.

17 Jan 2025 , 1 Min Article

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