Information for GP Practice Patients
Overview
The Pharmacy First service builds on the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS), which has been running since October 2019.
The CPCS enables patients to be referred into community pharmacy for:
- Minor illness advice and treatment
- Urgent repeat medicine supply
What’s New?
Launched on 31 January 2024, Pharmacy First expands the service by allowing community pharmacies to:
- Provide care for 7 common conditions
- Follow defined clinical pathways to complete care episodes
- Offer direct patient access without a referral (for these 7 conditions only)
Conditions Covered
Pharmacists can manage the following conditions within specific age ranges:
| Clinical pathway | Age range |
| Acute otitis media* | 1 to 17 years |
| Impetigo | 1 year and over |
| Infected insect bites | 1 year and over |
| Shingles | 18 years and over |
| Sinusitis | 12 years and over |
| Sore throat | 5 years and over |
| Uncomplicated urinary tract infections | Women 16–64 years |
* Distance selling pharmacies will not complete consultations for acute otitis media.
How to Access the Service
Patients can use Pharmacy First in two ways:
- Referral routes – from:
- General practice
- Urgent and emergency care settings
- NHS 111 (online and telephone)
- Direct access – for the 7 conditions only, patients can:
- Attend a participating pharmacy directly
- Contact the pharmacy by phone