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

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

09 Feb 2024 , 3 Min Article

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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 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 2 Min Article

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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 , 15 Min Module

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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 , 3 Min Article

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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 , 4 Min Article

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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 , 20 Min Module

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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 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 1 Min Article

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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 , 3 Min Article

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Nearly half of respondents to YouGov survey didn’t know about Pharmacy First launch

Forty-four per cent of the 2,028 people from England, Wales and Scotland who responded were unaware about the scheme.

31 Jan 2024 , 3 Min Article

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Some patients have never heard of conditions under Pharmacy First

Of 937 Superdrug customers who took part in its study, 32 per cent and 23 per cent had not heard of impetigo and sinusitis respectively.

30 Jan 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First is welcome but must not burden pharmacies, says Haleon chief

Haleon vice-president for GB and Ireland Bas Vorsteveld said the launch of Pharmacy First is a “major milestone".

30 Jan 2024 , 3 Min Article

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Asda area manager warns locums who don’t engage with Pharmacy First will be removed

Asda healthcare area manager Andrew Windus said locums who refuse to engage with Pharmacy First will be "removed" from Locate a Locum's platform "permanently."

29 Jan 2024 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacy First set to launch this week

NHS England has confirmed that the Pharmacy First service will launch on Wednesday and a national marketing campaign will run from mid-February.

29 Jan 2024 , 5 Min Article

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