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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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CPE: GPs’ criticism of Pharmacy First is “disappointing”

Community Pharmacy England said “isolated incidents” must be “handled locally without fuelling further media coverage.”

21 Feb 2024

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CCA: Most members provided at least one Pharmacy First consultation in opening week

The CCA said data was collected following "a blackbox exercise with members via PharmOutcomes."

20 Feb 2024

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CCA: Pharmacy First feedback has been ‘positive’ despite GPs’ grumbles

CCA chief Malcolm Harrison was reacting to a story in Pulse last week that “a number of GPs” had aired concerns.

19 Feb 2024

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High levels of patient satisfaction after week one of Pharmacy First

However, 70 per cent of NPA members who responded to the survey said they felt “under additional pressure” to deliver it.

13 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First locum fee deduction warning ‘not intended as a threat’

Job posting warned of deductions for 'incomplete Pharmacy First referrals'.

09 Feb 2024

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Lord Markham: We had 3,000 Pharmacy First consultations in first three days

The health minister Nick Markham also played down concerns pharmacies providing the service could be overwhelmed.

08 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy2U offers six-condition Pharmacy First service

Pharmacy2U said patients can book an online appointment with a pharmacist.

07 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First: Practising good antimicrobial stewardship

There is recognition that community pharmacy teams have a key role to play in antimicrobial stewardship. Pharmacy First and similar schemes are intended to enable more completed episodes of care in pharmacies for specific common conditions, some of which will involve treatment decisions about antibiotics.

06 Feb 2024

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Researchers awarded £2.4m to assess Pharmacy First antimicrobial impact

London team get Government grant to look at take-up and impact of landmark service.

06 Feb 2024

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PDA urges members to report 'commercially motivated' Pharmacy First behaviour

The PDA told members to get in touch in confidence after reports some companies threatened to cancel locums’ shifts.

05 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First: Sore throat – part 2

This CPD module is the latest in our series designed to support pharmacists in delivering the Pharmacy First service in England. It covers the clinical management of acute sore throat.

02 Feb 2024

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Asda clarifies Pharmacy First target and denies link-selling claims

Asda denies setting an initial target of 30 consultations a month for its stores and sending a communication to staff telling them “link-selling is key.”

02 Feb 2024

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PDA: NHS England refused request to phase in Pharmacy First gradually

The Pharmacists’ Defence Association says pharmacists were not properly consulted about the service.

01 Feb 2024

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Locums claim Rowlands threatened to cancel shifts if they didn’t make Pharmacy First declaration

Rowlands said locums are "responsible for ensuring they are competent to deliver Pharmacy First."

01 Feb 2024

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Pharmacy First launch: Service will deliver ‘faster, simpler’ patient care

Health leaders welcome the launch today of the landmark service in England.

31 Jan 2024

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