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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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Boots tops a million Pharmacy First consultations

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

15 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 2 Min Article

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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 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First “working well” for patients says watchdog

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

01 Jul 2025 , 3 Min Article

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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 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 2 Min Article

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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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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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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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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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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 , 1 Min Article

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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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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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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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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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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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