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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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NHSE is ‘investing to significantly improve’ Pharmacy First roll-out, says ChPO

David Webb said NHSE is working with pharmacy and GP IT suppliers so pharmacists can update patients' records after a Pharmacy First consultation.

01 Oct 2024

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BREAKING: Pharmacy First threshold reduced to 20 for October

Threshold cut in light of continuing contractor concerns, says Community Pharmacy England.

30 Sep 2024

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Cegedim: New booking and referral system is boost for Pharmacy First

Cegedim has gone live with NHS England’s booking and referral standard which will send GP referrals directly to pharmacies.

26 Sep 2024

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CCA publishes recommendations to help LPCs support Pharmacy First roll-out

The CCA said LPCs should use “multiple channels” to bust myths surrounding the service by sharing evidence of its effectiveness.

25 Sep 2024

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Under a fifth of polled contractors expect to hit Pharmacy First target in September

Avicenna members not confident they will complete 20 pathway consultations in September

11 Sep 2024

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Avicenna conference: Fix funding first, says Buxton

Fears that contractors will walk away from Pharmacy First due to unrealistic thresholds.

10 Sep 2024

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Letters to the editor

NHS England is bleeding pharmacies of funding!

04 Sep 2024

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Analysis: Pharmacies face arguably their biggest test this winter

Pharmacy owners are concerned about how much of an impact Pharmacy First will have on the busy winter season.

04 Sep 2024

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CPE: NHS failing to publicise Pharmacy First as it raises payment threshold

Morrison calls on NHS to support the service as activity threshold doubles.

02 Sep 2024

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Government set to claw back over £1m in Pharmacy First money

Over 500 contractors did not deliver five clinical Pharmacy First consultations needed to secure an upfront payment of £2,000.

29 Aug 2024

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GP strike action impacting Pharmacy First communications

Doctors are switching off Update Record functionality as part of their collective action.

19 Aug 2024

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Pharmacy owners’ views in survey will inform CPE committee meeting next month

Community Pharmacy England wants owners’ views on increased Pharmacy First thresholds and GPs’ industrial action.

09 Aug 2024

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GPs capping appointments is ‘great opportunity’ for Pharmacy First

Numark chairman Harry McQuillan said it was “more important than ever” the public is aware of Pharmacy First.

02 Aug 2024

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Category M error is “severe blow” to pharmacy, warns Numark chairman

Harry McQuillan said the Government was penalising pharmacies for a mistake they were not responsible for.

31 Jul 2024

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Pharmacy First threshold for August reduced from 20 to 15

CPE chief Janet Morrison said negotiator will “review ongoing service data” with DHSC and NHSE.

31 Jul 2024

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Pharmacies claimed for 400,000 Pharmacy First consultations in first three months

Seventy-eight per cent of consultations resulted in a medicine being supplied to patients.

29 Jul 2024

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