This site is intended for UK Healthcare Professionals only

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.

istock-1392295135

Acute sinusitis: treatment and management

Learn how to identify sinusitis and understand the role of sea water spray in managing associated congestion

23 Jul 2025

olivier-picard-1280

NPA chair reminds public about Pharmacy First UTI help after report warns of hospital costs

A Government report today warns urinary tract infections cost hospitals in England £604 million in 2023 to 2024.

15 Jul 2025

patient-pharmacist-summary

Pharmacy First “working well” for patients says watchdog

...but more research needed to test outcomes before expanding service, Healthwatch suggests.

01 Jul 2025

pharmacy-first-generic-pic-1280

CCA says members have provided over one million Pharmacy First consultations

The Company Chemists’ Association said its member pharmacies rolled out consultations to nearly 9,000 patients during the Easter weekend.

30 Jun 2025

ae-main

Calls to ‘turbo charge’ pharmacy services as hours wasted in A&E

The NPA wants to expand Pharmacy First to help tackle A&E logjam.

30 Jun 2025

stack-of-coins-summary

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

pharmacy-first-1280

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

pharmacist-stressed-1280

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

mceu-74647563311746804925054

Over 5 million patients have used Pharmacy First since launch

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

29 May 2025

shilpa-shah-sigma-summary

Fund an extra staff member with just 18 NHS consultations a week, advises LPC chief

LPC chief Shilpa Shah presents a breakdown of how services can aid recruitment efforts

14 May 2025

pharmacy-first-generic-pic-1280

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

leukaemia-2025-1280

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

letter-to-the-editor-1280

Letter to the editor 4

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

08 Apr 2025

pharmacist-unhappy-1280

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

dispensing-summary

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

money-magnifying-glass-summary

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

Change privacy settings